Date: 2016-12-17

The Senior Special Assistant to the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed on Media and Communications, Dr. Muyideen Akorede has given an assurance that all the ongoing and new projects embarked upon by the State government will be funded to completion by December, 2018 through the Kwara Infrastructure Development Fund, IFK.

Dr. Akorede gave the assurance while speaking at the Media Roundtable organized by the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara State Council. He spoke on the topic, "Kwara Project; Collective Responsibility for Shared Burden."

According to the SSA, one of the innovative ideas of the present administration is the introduction of Kwara Infrastructure Development Fund (IFK), which is a funding mechanism between the State government and the contractors to carryout projects under an agreed plan.

"Under the IFK all projects that have started will be completed before 2018, no project will be left uncompleted before the end of this administration," he said.

Speaking on the proposed State government's Light Up Kwara project that has been trailed by mixed reactions, Dr. Akorede explained that the streetlight project is a beautiful initiative that should be embraced by Kwarans because it will revive night buying and selling activities that is dead in the state.

He added that the project will be financed through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) under the IFK scheme, stressing this will not put pressure on the government while also giving it a chance to fund other projects.

"Current administration is doing its best in human capital development through youth development and vocational skills, to enable kwara youth be like other counterpart in advanced countries. More than 50,000 businesses have benefited from the 1.9billion SME support fund. With this the Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN) listed Kwara SME as one of the best in Nigeria.

"Gov. Amhed is committed to make Kwara state the best in north central for investment, agriculture, education and innovation. With this effective governance I tell you categorically that Gov. Ahmed is the most transparent Governor in Nigeria."

Dr. Akorede therefore, said that "Project Kwara is our collective responsibility and Governor Ahmed is determined to make Kwara better by providing the necessary infrastructure.

"Gov. Ahmed is ensuring kwara state has the infrastructure it deserves. No state in the north central that is doing lofty projects like Kwara state," said Dr. Akorede.

The SSA Media also commissioned the ongoing NUJ Penhouse model school and mosque at the NUJ premises.

Giving his remark earlier, Mr. Abiodun Kareem, Chairman NUJ, Kwara State Council said the parliament session is to enlighten journalists and the general public on current trending issues.

"Today, we are discussing about our collective responsibility towards building a better Kwara. We want to know the level at which Kwara Government is working to enable we journalists critically look the aspect we can support the government.

"We are here to question because we own the government accountability. So, we want the SSA media to brief us about the Kwara state government projects," Mr. Kareem said.