The Kwara State government has emerged the Most Transparent State Government and the Most Innovative State Government in the country.

The twin awards, according to the chief press secretary to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, Abdulwahab Oba, were presented in Lagos over the weekend, by Nigeria Impact Award powered by Exclusive Magazine.

According to the organisers of the award, the Kwara State government led by Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed was accorded the Most Transparent State Government Award based on the efforts of the state government to reach out to the people regularly.

It recalled that Kwara State ranked among the few states where commissioners and top government officials have regular interfaces with the people at least three times a week on radio and television.

It also noted that the monthly interactive programme 'The Governor Explains' provides a veritable platform for Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to interface with the people of the state on government programmes, policies and challenges.

On the Most Innovative State Government Award, the Exclusive Magazine explained that the award was presented to Governor Ahmed because of the innovative and people-oriented programmes of the state government, particularly the Community Health Insurance Scheme with over 600,000 people enrolled; Kwara State Bridge Employment Scheme which has ensured the transition of thousands of unemployed people into gainful employment; Kwara State Next Entrepreneur Scheme designed to create access to loans up to N10million to potential entrepreneurs.

In a related development, the First Nigeria Impact Award has voted the chief press secretary to the Kwara State governor, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, as the Most Outstanding Governor’s Spokesman in Nigeria.

The award, the organisers explained, was informed by the hard work of Alhaji Oba in ensuring that the public gets regularly informed about government activities.

Speaking at the occasion, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, who received the awards on behalf of his principal, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, said the award will spur Governor Ahmed and entire members of his administration to remain focused on delivery of good governance.