Date: 2009-02-16

Kwara State Governor, Dr Bukola Saraki has again charged Kwarans in Diaspora to come home and invest to compliment the State Government’s industrialisation drive, just as he set up a contact team to reach out to Kwara indigenes resident in different parts of the country. 

Governor Saraki, who gave the charge in Abuja during an interactive session with indigenes of the State resident within and outside the Federal Capital, said his administration was ready to support any individual or group of people wishing to invest in the State, adding that government would provide the enabling environment needed for them to operate. 

He stressed the need for the people to collaborate with government to create employment opportunities, pointing out that the burden of development cannot be entirely borne by any responsible government no matter how benevolent. 

The Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum disclosed that the interactive session was organised to create opportunity for the indigenes to brainstorm on how to contribute their quotas to move the State forward. 

To achieve this objective, he said, a contact team charged with the responsibility of reaching out and to be contacted by indigenes of the State on capacity -building and human development of all kwarans across the country, headed by the Secretary to the State Government, has been set up. 

Dr. Saraki commended Kwarans in positions of authority at the Federal level and urged them to create avenues for others. 

In his welcome remark, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abdul-Ganiyu Cook Olododo had disclosed that the interactive session was put together by the Governor to meet with Kwarans in Diaspora particularly those in Abuja on how to move forward and develop the State at a faster pace. 

In his own contribution, the immediate past President of Kwara Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Alhaji Jani Ibrahim had called on the indigenes of the State in Diaspora not to leave the industrialisation of the State to government alone, noting that only with collaborative efforts from all and sundry that the desired growth can be achieved. 

Alhaji Ibrahim said government could not shoulder the responsibility alone, hence the need for other stakeholders to collaborate and set up both Small and Medium scale Industries in the State as a way of creating job opportunity to reduce poverty and unemployment. 

He praised the efforts of Governor Saraki for his giant strides in turning around the economic fortunes of the State within the last six years, assuring him of the support of all in the private sector towards achieving the set objectives. 

The former Majority Leader in the State House of Assembly, Dr.Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe also congratulated the governor for his monumental achievements, which he described as unprecedented in the history of the State. 

Dr. Oloriegbe suggested that the State Government should make available her Internet addresses to all States of the federation where Kwarans of like minds could offer suggestions to government on the way forward. 

Another indigene, Alhaja Fatimoh Shonga, who commended the State Government for the Shonga Commercial Farm Initiative said the yoghurts being produced at the Shonga Dairies was far better than those available in Abuja and therefore called for the establishment of the dairy office in Abuja for easy access to the product. 

Other speakers at the interactive session expressed their readiness to actively participate in the industrialisation efforts of the State Government to make Kwara a pacesetter and a force to reckon with.  
  

Mas’ud Adebimpe 
Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor  

Monday, February 16, 2009