The Youth Empowerment Coordinator, Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State, Mrs. Yusuf Aminat Folake Olaniyi, in this interview, speaks on the efforts of the state government to positively engage the youth. Excerpts:

What motivated the Kwara State government to place high premium on youth empowerment?
Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed has taken it upon himself to give youth development priority attention. He promised during his campaign to address the issue of youth unemployment so as to add value to the economic well-being of the state; thereby allowing them to have a sense of belonging and also contribute their quota towards the economic growth of the state.

This is also considering the fact that unemployment situation has led to series of social vices ranging from kidnapping and armed robbery to prostitution among the teeming youths in the society.

In fact, the unemployment situation has affected the living standard of the populace as some of these youths are unable to fit into the society.

It is on this premise that successive administrations in the country have been fashioning out possible strategies on which youth unemployment can be tackled so as to bring a new lease of life to the society; thereby enhancing the economic growth of the nation.
It was this consideration that gave birth to the Kwara Bridge Empowerment Scheme, KWABES.

The KWABES was created to capture and analysed data on employable youths, facilitate the emergence of a new crop of entrepreneurs through training, provision of soft loans and other support, liaising with the public and private sector to provide places for corps members, support programmes, all initiatives from both local and public bodies aimed at generating employment for youths.
Under the scheme, the state government has directed graduate and non-graduate unemployed [between 18 and 35years] to be registered for employment on continuous basis irrespective of state of origin, religion, ethnicity, political belief and family status.

Do you think the dividends of democracy have cut across the three senatorial districts?
Yes, Governor Ahmed has built upon the achievement of his predecessor, Senator Bukola Saraki who had created conducive environment for the citizens. You would discover that most major roads have been constructed within the three senatorial districts, while some are under construction.

It would be recalled that recently the state government awarded a N1.5 billion contract for the rehabilitation of the 30 kilometre Arandun-Ipetu-Aran-Orin road in Kwara South Senatorial District.

We must commend the state government under the leadership of Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed for constructing Oko-Idofin-Odo-Ase road. The rehabilitation of this road has created conducive environment for the people in the area.

Like Oliver Twist, we are appealing to the state government to rehabilitate Ola-Idofin-Odo-Ase, Iloffa and Odo-Owa to Erinmope roads in order to make life meaningful for the people in the areas. The rehabilitation of the roads will boost agricultural production.

The rehabilitation of the road was a key priority of the state government’s Rural Road Rehabilitation Project.

Also some township roads were rehabilitated by the administration of Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed to boost commercial and economic activities within the districts.

It is government’s hope that the rehabilitation of the roads, when completed, would ease the smooth flow of traffic and reduce incessant crashes on our roads.

When the ongoing comprehensive rehabilitation work in Ilorin, Omu-Aran, Offa, Share and Kaiama General Hospitals are completed, another general hospital would be overhauled.

The state government will remain committed to the provision of additional primary health care centres in every ward in the state to boost healthcare delivery.

Some schools were also renovated, while furniture and other facilities were provided with the aim to create conducive environment for pupils and students.

The government is committed towards executing projects that would impact meaningfully on the living standard of the people, especially at the grassroots. More so, the former governor, Senator Bukola Saraki, who is our political leader, has been contributing immensely to the socio-economic development of the state. Since 2003 Senator Saraki has not relented in his efforts to create conducive environment for the people. Saraki, our God sent leader, has introduced programmes targeted to meet the yearning of the masses.

Your advice for the youth in the state and country at large?
I want to use this opportunity to implore the youth to shun anything that can tarnish their image. They should embrace peace at all times. They should shun bigotry, hooliganism, thuggery and other acts that are inimical to their future. They should contribute their quota to socio-economic development of the country. It is important for them to key into the state’s numerous programmes organized for the youth.