Date: 2018-03-18

The Kwara state government has commenced the building of three Solar Farm Tunnels in Ilorin, the state capital to power streetlights and other public facilities. The Director General, Kwara State Public Private Partnership Bureau, Mr. Abayomi Ogunsola disclosed this during an interview with LEADERSHIP Sunday in Ilorin, the state capital. Ogunsola said work is ongoing on three Solar Farm Tunnels; Fate Road, University of Ilorin Road and Sango, adding that the Solar Farm Tunnels, the first in Africa, will power streetlights and other public facilities like hospitals, government offices among others.

He disclosed that the Solar Farm Tunnels will supply power streetlights in Fate road, Umar Audi road-GRA, Tanke-Tipper Garage-Unilorin road, Kulende to Maraba, Post Office to Offa Garage, Offa Garage to Ganmo, Taiwo road, Unity and New Yidi road, all in Ilorin. He noted that the innovation means each streetlight pole will now be powered directly from the SLT, adding that over 500 poles would be powered. He added that the new innovation will enhance aesthetic beauty of the state capital and make Kwara state compliant with green evolution in era of climate change. Ogunsola stated that the project will be completed this year under Kwara Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative.

In a similar vein, the state government has been commended for adopting an e-payment platform for the payment of stipends to beneficiaries of the World Bank assisted Youth Employment and Social Support Operation-Public Workfare (YESSO-PWF) scheme in the State. Mr Chris Anake, Head, Monitoring and Evaluation, Operation Coordinating Unit of YESSO in Cross River State, gave the commendation during the distribution of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards to 1210 beneficiaries of the scheme in Kwara to mark the commencement of payment of stipends to the beneficiaries.

Anake said his team was in the as an independent monitoring group to observe the progress of the Public Workfare scheme in the state and make submissions appropriately. He disclosed that Kwara state is the first to introduce the e-payment platform among the 20 states implementing the YESSO-PWF scheme, adding that the e-payment platform will promote transparency and accountability.

Earlier in his address, the Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Alhaji Isiaka Al-amin, had urged beneficiaries from the 6 pilot local government areas of the state to take full advantage of the scheme and ensure judicious use of their monthly stipend. He also charged them to be committed in the discharge of their duties.

The Permanent Secretary also disclosed that over 4000 youths across the remaining 10 local government areas of the state would be engaged in the coming months as the state government will soon make the counterpart fund available. Also in his address, Head of the State Public Workfare Unit, Mr. S.O. Aregbe, assured the beneficiaries that the stipend would be paid as and when due. He said the PWF component of the YESSO programme, which is targeted at providing immediate labour intensive work opportunities for unskilled youths from poor households, will improve their living standard. In a separate interviews, two of the beneficiaries, Quadri Abdulraman and Mariam Ayo appreciated the state government for the initiative and solicited for an extension of the scheme beyond two years.