Date: 2012-04-13

Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has been awarded the Outstanding Agricultural Development Icon of Year 2011 for his contributions to the country's agricultural development. The award was conferred on him by African Leadership Magazine, organisers of the African Development and Industry Leadership Awards held in Washington, DC, US on Wednesday night. The event, which honours those individuals who have contributed to the economic development and growth of Nigeria, also saw the conferment of awards on Central Bank Governor, Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and legal luminary and former presidential candidate, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite.

In a citation read at the ceremony, the organisers applauded Governor Ahmed for scaling up the state's agricultural revolution, starting with his role as Chairman of the New Nigerian Farmers projects in the administration of former governor Bukola Saraki to his robust Agricultural policies since becoming governor. The organisers also praised Ahmed's strong vision for agriculture in Kwara State which has attracted huge foreign direct investment such as the N70 billion rice processing project and a $150 million agricultural processing complex into the state and started the process of establishing Kwara as the hub for agriculture in Nigeria. Ahmed was also commended for his structured and empirical approach to development planning, especially the linkages between commercial agriculture, youth empowerment, food security and wealth creation.

Responding, Governor Ahmed thanked the organisers for recognising Kwara State's strides in Agriculture and dedicated the award to 'the hard working people of Kwara State home and abroad'. Governor Ahmed said his administration was determined to create shared prosperity for the people of Kwara State and other stakeholders through a strategic emphasis on the state's key strengths in agriculture and invited Kwarans in the diaspora to return home to take advantage of the state's growing potential in Agriculture. Agriculture, he said, has the potential to economically empower the people of Kwara State, generate youth employment and lead to accelerated growing, adding that he is pleased Kwara State is leading the way in this regard. The Outstanding Agricultural Development Icon 2011 brings to two the number of awards won this year by Ahmed who was voted Best Governor in Northern Nigeria by Global Excellence Magazine last month.

by Femi Akorede