Promises
Ilorin – Two years into his tenure, Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara says his government is  fulfilling  its electoral promises to the electorates  as encapsulated in the Shared Prosperity Programme.

Ahmed said this on Monday at the 2013 New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) Kwara Business and Investment Development Interactive Session held in Ilorin.

He highlighted some of the achievements to include the rehabilitation of 400 classrooms, provision of free education up to post primary level and  reduction of tuition fees in the state-owned university at Malete.

In line with his administration’s electoral promises, Ahmed said over 300 bore holes had  been sunk.

He also said that 13 water works were rehabilitated across the state in the last two years to create greater access to water supply by the people.

Ahmed recalled that additional 189 communities in the state now enjoy regular electricity supply under his administration’s rural and urban electrification programme.

The governor said over 800 kilometres of rural, urban and federal roads had  been rehabilitated by the state government to enhance infrastructure development.

He said  primary and secondary health care institutions as well as five  General Hospitals had  either been rehabilitated or at various stages of completion.

On employment generation, Ahmed said over 2,000 youths were employed through the Kwara State Bridge Empowerment Scheme (KWABES).

The governor also said 28,000 small business owners benefited from N250 million loan facilities while another N100 million loan had  been earmarked for Micro, Small, and Medium Scale enterprises this year.

Ahmed promised that in the coming months, his government would implement landmark projects to accelerate economic growth and stimulate rapid job creation.

He assured the people that an Independent Power Project would be established to provide constant electricity across the state.

The Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Lanre Sagaya, said NEPAD was to promote African integration by focusing on such issues as  creating an enabling environment for economic growth.

An industrialist, Alhaji Jani Ibrahim,  in his own contribution,  lauded the interactive session,  saying  it provided a useful platform for the private sector to table its challenges before government. (NAN)