Date: 2021-09-03

• Says there must be value for public funds

• Adaramaja making us proud: Prof. Laro

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has commended the intensive project monitoring efforts by the State Universal Basic Education Board, saying the physical inspection of the ongoing school projects enjoys his full backing.

Presenting a letter of commendation to SUBEB chairman Prof Shehu Raheem Adaramaja, the Governor also commended the other monitoring mechanisms, such as electronic monitoring gadgets, being deployed by the board to ensure compliance with standards.

Video footages had recently emerged of Adaramaja's monitoring team enforcing adherence to contract standards in the ongoing remodelling, rehabilitation, and reconstruction across 600 basic schools in Kwara State. The projects are as captured in the 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 SUBEB-UBEC interventions.

The enforcement efforts, which have exposed some contractors, have led to communities joining the government to insist on quality job.

"I write to express my profound commendation to you for your invaluable efforts in the development of educational infrastructure in Kwara State," the Governor said in a commendation letter to Prof. Adaramaja.

"Most notably, your initiative to introduce monitoring and evaluation teams to carry our routine checks on ongoing SUBEB projects within the state, and, particularly, your efforts to ensure substandard jobs are not delivered by any contractor, are highly laudable. I encourage you to keep up the good work and ensure our commitment to providing a safe learning environment and top quality education to our people remains resolute."

The Governor's commendation came a few days after a professor of human kinetics and health education, Ibrahim Laaro Abubakar, commended the efforts of Adaramaja to reposition basic education in the state.

"I must join patriots to commend the good work of the Governor and of course our colleague, Prof. Adaramaja, for the glaring turn around we are seeing in the basic education sector. The efforts should be supported. The improvements are very glaring, despite the huge challenges inherited in that sector," the professor said over the weekend at a colloquium to mark the 40th birthday of NTA staff and author Raliat Ibrahim.

"We did not expect anything less and it is gratifying to see Adaramaja making us proud in the academic community with his commitments and bold steps at the SUBEB."

Laro, who doubles as the director of the Kwara State University's Institute of Education, was the keynote speaker at the colloquium themed, 'Effectiveness of Extra-Curriculum activities and provision of infrastructural facilities towards school children educational development.'

He spoke alongside Hon. Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development Hajia Sa'adatu Modibbo-Kawu, who remarked that the AbdulRazaq's administration has changed the narrative for good in the education sector.

Rafiu Ajakaye

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

September 2, 2021