Since the inauguration of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed's administration in Kwara state on May 29, 2011, his government has prioritised the delivery of dividends of democracy to the citizens in the state.

The desire of the Kwara State government to ensure development and deliver the gains of democracy to Kwarans has continued to increase the commitment of the people to have confidence in the system This has also boosted the yearnings and expectations of the citizens since the present administration has apparently added value to the socio-economic well-being of the populace.

In the past two and half years of Governor Abdulfatah's administration in Kwara state, measures of different shapes have been put in place, all aimed at improving the socio-economic life of the area. Among such programmes that had been embarked on by the administration were basically on education, health, youth employment, rural integration, women empowerment, road construction, security, water, labour, development for civil servants and teachers, and agriculture.

Knowledge is Power In education parlance, the administration has ensured that all dilapidated infrastructure in both primary and secondary schools were given a new lift so as to enhance the educational learning of the pupils in the affected schools. Apart from this, the administration declared free education in primary and secondary schools, and thus allowed the children of less privileged people in the state to have access to education in the state. The administration also ensured the payment of teachers salaries as at when due while their welfare also had the sympathy of the government, in order to assist them to have good morale to teach the pupils.

Correspondingly, the performances of the students in external examinations like NECO, WAEC in the state have increased since the administration came into power. This giant stride of the administration has led the leadership of the Nigeria of Union of Teachers (NUT) to give Governor Ahmed award as one of the best governors in the country in view of his contributions to the course of education and teachers in Kwara. The administration also ensured the supply of laboratory and science equipment to secondary schools so as to boost the technical education among the students in the state.

Access to Roads In the area of roads development, the administration has fared well in this sector as all the roads linking various towns and villages across the three senatorial areas of the state got face lift as this assisted the movement of goods and services from the farmland to the targeted market; thus boosting the economic development of the state. As at the time of filling this report, the administration has constructed over 141 kilometres of roads in the state. No fewer than 41 rural/feeder roads with a total length of over 287km have been completed while 81km are ongoing in the state. The development has continued to add values to the economic base of the rural populace as the farm produce from the rural communities have been brought to the nearby market for sale without any hindrance.

Water for All In the area of water supply, the administration, based on continuity, ensured that the ongoing Ilorin water reticulation project continued, so as to tackle the perennial water problem in Ilorin city. Also, other water dams in various senatorial districts of the state witnessed urgent rehabilitation so as to ensure that the people of the state gets portable water supply, thus, reducing the spread of any communicable diseases. The administration also sank boreholes in some towns and villages to complement the efforts of the rehabilitation of dams in the state. Among such rehabilitated water works that were Pepele Waterworks serving a complex of seven communities; complete rehabilitation of Rore, Ilesha Baruba, Afon, Kaiama, Gwanara, Pampo, Rogun, Megida, Agbeyangi, Lafiagi and Okuku water works, construction of a booster station an Amberi to boost water supply to Ajase Ipo and environs, and reconstruction of Obbo-Aiyegunle water works, completion of Ekan and Idofian Water Schemes.

Power Boost In the area of energy, the administration has procured and installed transformers with the intent of illuminating all the nooks and crannies of the state. In the process, over 136 transformers of various ratings procured and installed from May 29, 2011 to date. The transformers were used for completion of some electrification projects and transformer dropping across the three Senatorial districts of the state. Also, the administration embarked on the construction of street lights to enhance security of lives and properties. The under-listed streetlight projects have been executed during the period, Offa Garage Roundabout to Michael Imoudu, Ilorin (2.6km); Geri-Alimi to Isale-Oja/Emir's Palace, Ilorin (4.5km); University Road, Tanke, Ilorin (5.1km); and rehabilitation of Maraba to Sango Street Light (3.2km).

Health is Wealth In the heath sector, the administration embarked on the rehabilitation of five General Hospitals located in Ilorin, Share, Kaima, Offa and Omu-Aran; all is to bring health care delivery to the doorsteps of the rural populace. The administration also ensured that the other existing hospitals and health centres located across the three senatorial districts of the state were attended to through the provision of drugs, dressings and improved welfare packages for the medical personnel in the affected hospitals. The target of the administration is to ensure that the people have access to medical facilities within 500 kilometres in their various localities in the state. And this has continued to give the administration credit.

Building Entrepreneurship Last year October, the administration unveiled a N500 million Kwara Entrepreneurship Scheme, with a commitment to support the informal sector, through improved access to affordable credit and capacity building programmes.

In keeping with that commitment, the administration inaugurated the pioneer State Executives of the Kwara State Artisans' Congress as well as the Master Trainer Scheme for apprentice artisans with a pledge to package a revolving credit intervention for members within a year.

The government inaugurated a N100 million Revolving Micro Credit for Kwara State Artisans to realise dream of an economically-vibrant informal sector in view of emphasis on small business promotion under Shared Prosperity. The scheme, which started with N250 million in 2012, has grown to a cumulative N418 million with 1,017 cooperative groups benefiting so far.

The money, received by the artisans, made up of carpenters, tailors, plumbers, hairdressers, etc was expected to boost their various businesses and contribute to personal and their families' welfare. Speaking at the occasion, the governor said, "Our determination to fund your congress is because all of you are important to the economic development of our state and therefore deserve all necessary support.

"Besides, it is part of our strategies to address the problem of unemployment, reduce poverty, and boost the economic well being of our people in tangible ways. It is in this spirit that I urge the beneficiaries of this Revolving Credit Scheme to judiciously expend the fund in order to achieve the intended effect on your various businesses."

In furtherance of this objective, the present administration in Kwara state has established the International Vocational Centre, Ajase Ipo to fill identified skill gaps by empowering youths to acquire modern vocational skills in areas like engineering, construction, fashion design and textiles, welding and carpentry. With this, it is hoped that the Vocational Centre will not only produce job creators but also establish Kwara State as the hub for vocational skills in West Africa. The present administration also launched N3 billion vehicle loan to civil servants in the state to demonstrate a commitment to improving the welfare of civil servants across the state, including Secondary and Primary School Teachers.

Crucial Security In the area of security, the administration, upon assumption of office, donated 10 Toyota Hilux Trucks to the Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Police followed by another five to enhance the operational efficiency of the security agencies. Also, last year, the administration launched Operation Harmony, and distributed 15 Toyota Hilux 2x4 Pick-up vans to law enforcement agencies in the state in order to ensure security of lives and property.

As 2015 elections approach, with many political parties and associations gearing up to wrest power from the incumbent, Governor Ahmed has surely raised the bar with his administration's efforts at improving what he met on ground on assumption of office; thus making a re-election feasible or throwing up a big challenge to any incoming government to meet up.