THE  spirit of entrepreneurship and great sense of community of people of Omu Aran in Igbomina land of Kwara State has been extolled and traced to historical beginning of the ancient town.

Speaking at the annual Omu Aran Day celebration at the weekend, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, said the qualities had manifested in an array of self-help projects as well as the scores of accomplished men and women who call Omu-Aran home.

"Omu-Aran's rich history as one of the key towns of Igbominaland and its people's giant strides in
all spheres of Nigerian life makes it one of the state's most prominent towns.

"I therefore, congratulate  Oba Charles Ibitoye, the Olomu Of Omu-Aran and the people of Omu-Aran as you commemorate another memorable Omu-Aran day.

The governor, who said that Omu-Aran was home to Landmark University, one of the nation's foremost private universities, among other successful entrepreneurial ventures, added that the sense of industry was traceable to the diverse backgrounds of the Igbomina people who originated from ancient Oyo, Ife and Ketu in Benin Republic.

Governor Ahmed also said that people should complement government's effort to provide employment and infrastructure.

The governor, who said that 70 per cent of the people lived in rural environment and they were traditionally farmers, said "unless we move from the current subsistence level, to commercial agriculture- driven level, we will not be able to transform our people's lives.

"We must emphasise the fact that Kwara State traditionally is civil service driven state. The biggest employer is Kwara State. It should not be so. I want to reiterate that people are required to complement the efforts of government", he said.

Governor Ahmed also used the occasion to restate his administration's determination to economically empower the people of the state through a variety of life-transforming programmes and policies.

"As part our shared prosperity programme, for example, we have commenced the rehabilitation of Omu-Aran General Hospital into a first class, modern health facility to provide quality healthcare to our people at the cost of N200 million and a completion time of 24 weeks. Other general hospitals currently being rehabilitated across the state included those in Ilorin, Offa, Share and Kaiama. Once these works are completed, my administration will award contracts for the total upgrade of another 5 hospitals.

"Furthermore, I am pleased to announce the completion of the Omu-Aran Township to Landmark University Road in furtherance of our policy of supporting key sectors such as education with strategic infrastructure while also enhancing the socio-economic life of our people.

"In the area of education, my administration has also awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of 244 blocks of classrooms in order to improve school infrastructure including those in Omu-Aran and other parts of Irepodun Local Government Area."