‘It’s all good here.’ That catchphrase resonates quite well among residents of Kwara State.
To be sure, on every corner of the street in this state also known as the State of Harmony, residents have perfected the act of greeting one another with the catchphrase, just like someone singing to a guitar.

So last week, when the Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed formally launched the new youth empowerment programme (Quickwin) in the state, it was to the admiration of the people.  And in that mood of a happy moment, young people who had gathered at the open field inside the government house surged forward to shout ‘It’s all good here.’
Yes, the cheers were long and loud. And from the loudspeaker where he gave to them the message of hope, Governor Ahmed waved endlessly to acknowledge cheers from the people with whom he has a bond for good governance, exactly three years ago, when he was elected.

“As we launch Quickwin today, we are positively touching lives and putting thousands more on the path to sustained prosperity. The QuickWin Empowerment and Employment Scheme expands on the successes of Kwara State Bridge Empowerment Scheme with a greater focus on entrepreneurship, vocational skills and public works,” he said.

“With the flag-off of Quickwin and the engagement of 5,200 youths, this administration has employed 10, 200 youths since inception and will engage an additional 3,000 by the end of the year.”
True, the government said it has earmarked N2.4bn for the employment of 8,200 youths in the next one year under its Quickwin Empowerment and Employment scheme.

That, for the youths in Kwara State means a path to a sustainable future.  “We are confident that our tomorrow is good and glorious. We are happy about this, because it’s a life changing opportunity,” Hasssan Mohammed, a university student who attended the event said thoughtfully.

For her part, Muinat Kareem whose son is one of the beneficiaries, the government is helping to create an environment for accelerated growth, while taken violence off the streets. “When young people are empowered, violence will not be heard in our communities. This kind of empowerment will also change the way we live, because of its impact on the lives of the people,” she said.

A beneficiary, Hanafi Kudirat was full of praise for the government. She said: “We have a responsive and responsible government in Kwara State. The governor made promises before the election and he’s fulfilling that promise to us.”
She added: “Youth empowerment is critical to the progress of any community. We have a man with such understanding in the governor of the state and that’s why Kwara is moving forward.

“The rewards of any youth empowerment approach in high-poverty communities are significant. There has never been a better time to invest in the youths than now with appropriate opportunities given to the youths to put their natural endowment to creative and productive channels.”

Governor Ahmed who personally gave letter of employment to a few of the beneficiaries during the launch said his government has made tremendous progress, despite its many challenges.
He said: “Indeed, the challenges that confront us today may tempt us with pessimism. But let me make it very clear: We have covered considerable ground and given hope for a much better tomorrow.

“Apart from our youth empowerment schemes, we have boosted entrepreneurship with the provision of N640m in revolving credit to 41, 000 SMEs and structured skill acquisition centers for the benefit of our youths. In the health sector, we have enhanced access to quality health care with an expanded Community Health Insurance Scheme, the supply of drugs and equipment to hospitals and the remodeling and expansion of Ilorin, Offa, Share, Kaiama and Omu-Aran Hospitals to the state-of-the art facilities. More communities are now powered with electricity through our rural and urban electrification programme under which we have procured and installed transformers across the state.”

He added: “In the road sector, we have demonstrated the benefits of continuity by completing all but a few inherited roads while a similar proportion of those started by this administration within and outside the state capital have been completed, such as the Oro-Ijomu Oro Road which I commissioned yesterday.

“In the education sector, more of our children now receive functional education as we have upscaled education reforms, enhanced primary and secondary school infrastructure and structured skill acquisition training in the state. With the imminent opening of the City and Guilds-affiliated International Vocational Center, Ajasse Ipo, Kwara State is poised to become the hub for globally recognized vocational skills in the sub-region

“What these strides imply is that we have strengthened our people’s confidence in democracy and given hope. Based on the significant number of lives we have transformed in the last three years, the future is even brighter for our state and its people. Men and women, young and old now have access to concrete opportunities to enhance their livelihoods, live a decent life and prosper in an atmosphere of peace. In the coming months, this administration will begin implementation of state-wide socio-economic capital projects that will boost our state as an emerging economic hub.

Now, Quickwin is perhaps the only empowerment scheme of its type in the country that is open to all residents regardless of their skill sets, levels of education or state of origin.

“Our youth population in Africa presents an opportunity and a challenge. Half of the population is under 25 compared to the population of the rest that is aging. To prevent this opportunity from becoming a threat we must focus on human capital development, especially functional education, vocational skill acquisition and entrepreneurship particularly, Agribusiness. Quickwin is one of the ways we are doing this,” Ahmed explained.

And to further stimulate economic activities and enhance public works, Quickwin according to Ahmed also includes low-hanging projects such as classroom rehabilitation, transformer installation, and borehole construction across the state.
So with the launching of Quickwin, the governor has inspired younger generation to the dream of a brighter tomorrow, but not without a note of caution.

He said: “My assurance becomes even stronger that entrepreneurship and vocational skill acquisition remain the most viable pathways for sustainable empowerment. I have no doubt that it will act as an important catalyst in improving the livelihoods of youths and create valuable skills to fill existing gaps in the economy, making crime and criminality less attractive options for survival.

“My administration therefore remains committed to creating a new crop of youth entrepreneurs through training, advocacy, re-orientation and access to affordable credit.

“Indeed, the most significant component of Quickwin is entrepreneurship under which eligible youths will undergo paid training for up to 12 months.

“While congratulating the pioneers of this scheme, I must also intimate you with the responsibilities you must shoulder.
“As forerunners, the initial outcome of the programme would depend on you. I therefore urge you to show absolute commitment to the programme, to earn a living and contribute to societal stability and progress.

“At this juncture, I want to admonish the private sector to take a cue in creating employment for youths, as government alone cannot provide all the needed jobs.  Indeed, the private sector has the largest capacity to ameliorate youth unemployment.
“My administration therefore stands ready to boost the private sector’s capacity to create fresh jobs through additional incentives and collaboration.”

Already, in collaboration with City and Guilds of London, Ahmed believes the state will begin to export thoroughbred technicians across the country and in sub-Saharan Africa, when its International vocation centre located in Ajase-Ipo, area of the state starts to churn out its graduates.

“With the international vocational training centre, we are modernising vocational training for its effectiveness and efficiency. The centre will deliver world- class performance in all its operations and it will turn Senior Secondary School leavers, Polytechnic and University graduates into a well-trained technicians and artisans ready to create jobs and contribute to the state economy.

“At the end of the training period, successful students will be awarded globally-recognised certificates and diplomas moderated by the London-based City and Guilds and curriculum for the centre has been structured to address the need to meet not only international standards but also industry and business needs.”
So in Kwara it is a paradigm shift from endless waiting for limited white collar jobs to skills acquisition and entrepreneurship.