The Kwara State Government under its Shared Prosperity programme has strengthened 45 of its healthcare delivery facilities with modern equipment to ensure that Kwarans have access to healthcare within 500 metres of their residences.

The State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, said this in Ilorin, adding that the hospitals include 13 General Hospitals and 32 Cottage Hospitals.

He added that 15 primary healthcare centres have been overhauled while five General Hospitals in Ilorin, Omu-Aran, Offa, Share and Kaiama are being rehabilitated.

Governor Ahmad recalled that in the last one year, his administration's strategic infrastructure programme led to the rehabilitation of over 600 kilometres of roads, construction of over 300 kilometres of rural roads, while over 200 blocks of classrooms have been rehabilitated in 58 secondary schools in the state.

He also said that his administration has strengthened the informal sector as 147 cooperative groups have been empowered through a N250 million micro credit schemes and a N750 million revolving loan scheme for farmer cooperatives.

On job creation, Governor Ahmed said that 1,000 of the 2,000 youths employed under the Kwara State Bridge Empowerment Scheme (KWABES) have been integrated into the civil service while another 750 members of the scheme are undergoing vocational training to become entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, the State government's drive to transform the state to a commercial and tourism haven was enhanced with the unveiling of a new logo for the State by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmad. Governor Ahmad described the logo with the motto, Peace, Enterprise and Progress as one which "celebrates things that make us unique and strengthens our identity as a people".