To gazette scholarship awards for winners of presidential schools debate
Kwara State Government has approved the dualization of Yebumot Al -Hikma University-Adeta Roundabout-Oloje Road to ease traffic gridlock, lessen travel time and support industrialization potentials of the state.
The approval for the construction of the road was given Tuesday morning at a meeting of the State Executive Council, held in Ilorin.
When completed, the road will serve as an industrial layout by connecting Asa Dam- Western Reservoir dual carriageway with Kaiama Road at Oloje, thereby shortening travel time.
The contract, which is to be completed in 10 months, was awarded at the cost of N1.6 Billion to JMK Construction after a bidding process.
Similarly, the Council approved the award for Phase 1 upgrading of Gbugbu market in Edu Local Government area of the State to a befitting international market at a cost N442, 936,533.88 only to Upper Level Limited after a bidding process.
This is to further boost economic activities of the state through the market which attracts international traders and investors from some neighbouring countries and all parts of Nigeria.
Addressing the council members, Governor AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq commended them for their patriotism, diligence and commitment to full realisation of the agenda of his administration at making Kwara State one of the best three-governed states in the country.
He charged the council members not to rest on their oars individually and collectively in consolidating on the impressive gains and progress made so far.
The governor contended that no matter the fruitless efforts in some quarters to wish away the inglorious past record of the displaced government, posterity would remain grateful to the current crop of dedicated leaders and patriots of the State working collectively in and outside the government to make Kwara State one of the best and investors’ destinations in the country.
Meanwhile Governor AbdulRazaq is set to present the 2022 budget estimates to the State House of Assembly on Wednesday following the Council’s approval of the draft 2022 budget estimates for the state.
Similarly, Governor AbdulRazaq late Monday hosted the state contingent that won the recently concluded president’s schools debate in Lagos, saying the victory shows a significant turnaround in the public school system in the state.
The governor said the scholarship award to the victorious students would be gazetted for posterity so that future administrations would respect what represents a modest reward the state can offer the children who have brought honour to the state as a means of encouraging others to do well.
AbdulRazaq had earlier issued a press statement congratulating the team for the feat and pledging the government’s readiness to sponsor their education to the university level anywhere in Nigeria.
“We are all excited by what these young students have done. We thanked them earlier and made our pronouncement of giving them scholarship to university level. That will be gazetted so that nobody in the future can deny them that right,” he said when the contingent visited the Government House.
The Governor gave each of the students N500, 000 and additional N1m to their teachers — a gesture he hopes would spur other students to study harder and be good ambassadors of the state.
The contingent was led by Chairman for State SUBEB, Sheu Raheem Adaramaja, accosted by their teachers, parents of the students, and family members.
AbdulRazaq praised the parents of the students and their teachers for the proper upbringing and the effective mentorship ahead of the context, adding that the government will continue to prioritise the welfare of teachers, the entire workforce, as well as promote decent learning environment.
“And for the teachers, I say well done. We have to dig deep to make sure that we sustain your welfare. We know where we are coming from — a period when salaries were not even paid. Sometimes half salaries were paid. But when we started we made sure that workers are getting their salaries as and when due,” he said.
“We started also with the minimum wage whereby nobody earns less than N30, 000, and now we have agreed with the labour and we are just finalising the details concerning the local government.”
He commended the efforts of Adaramaja and his team in ensuring a total turnaround in the state SUBEB, noting that this development alone will stimulate more competition and increase education quality in the public school system.
The six-student Kwara debating team comprises Ajenifuja Quareebullahi Sheu (Ilorin Grammar School JSS); Dunmoye Sheriffdeen (Offa Grammar School JSS); Adisa Robiat Jaji (Government Girls Day JSS Pakata); Mohammed Halimat (United Community Junior Secondary School Ilorin); Agboola Amdalat (Zango Okesuna, JSS Pake); and Apaokagi Fauziyat Ahmad (Government Girls Day JSS Pakata).
Presenting the first-prize trophy to the governor, Adaramaja said the victory is a product of the government’s huge investment in the education sector.
He explained that the students proved their mettle in every stage for them to beat other contenders, especially the host state, Lagos, and Katsina, both in the semifinals and final stages.
Adaramaja commended the patience and understanding the team enjoyed from the parents throughout the period, saying they never hesitated in allowing their children to partake in the vigorous training ahead of the competition.
Abdul Adisa Jaji, one of the parents, said what the pupils have come out with clearly explains that public schools are not what they used to be, hailing the sincere commitment of the present administration to secure a better future for the school children.
He also thanked the governor’s gesture of rewarding the students’ performance with scholarship awards.
