Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has said the state government will commit billions of naira to improve educational curriculum, infrastructure and hygiene in all the schools in the state this year.

AbdulRazaq said such would go a long way in aiding learning and improving the safety of pupils in schools in the state.

He stated this in Ilorin yesterday during the presentation of N6million cheque to the six public school students who recently won the presidential debate competition in Abuja.

The six public school students are: Mashood Kamaldeen (Government Secondary School, Ilorin East LG); Jatto Ramatallahi (Offa Grammar School, Offa); Jimoh Abayomi Emmanuel (Tanke Community Junior Secondary School, Ilorin South); Emmanuel Chioma (St. Anthony Junior Secondary School, Ilorin East); Dolapo Mariam (Offa Grammar School, Offa); and AbdulKareem Uswat ( Okelele Junior Secondary School Ilorin East).

He said: “We will continue to make sure you, and indeed every Kwara child, have a very conducive environment to learn.

“That is why Kwara is one of the states that engage in the FG/World bank-supported AGILE project (Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment).

“We shall be making full advocacy about other programmes the state has subscribed to over the coming months as well.”

He added: “This year, billions will be invested to improve educational curriculum and infrastructure in our schools. We are taking this very seriously. We will make sure we cover most schools as we go along.

“To the teachers and parents, I urge you to keep up your support for these kids and for their education. Let us continue to strengthen our patriotism to the state and Nigeria as a whole.”

The governor, who presented the cheque to the winners, said the presentation of the cheque was a fulfillment of his administration’s pledge to give the great six one million naira each alongside a full scholarship for their first degree in any public tertiary institution in Nigeria.

AbdulRazaq congratulated them and their parents on the feat, saying the government will continue to monitor their educational programme to succeed in life.

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman, State Universal Education Board(SUBEB), Prof Sheu Raheem Adaramaja, thanked the governor for keeping his promise to the debate champions, adding that the pupils will reciprocate by bringing home another trophy in subsequent competitions.