Date: 2017-02-20

AN ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE SPEAKER OF THE KWARA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, RT. HON. (DR) ALI AHMAD AT THE OFFICIAL INVESTITURE OF ALHAJI (DR) AHMED ADEOYE RAJI AS THE PRESIDENT OF KWARA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INDUSTRY, MINES AND AGRICULTURE (KWACCIMA), HELD AT THE STATE BANQUET HALL OF KWARA STATE ON THURSDAY, 16TH FEBRUARY, 2017

Courtesies

I am highly honoured and delighted to be part of this success story of the investiture of your President who will preside over the affairs of this noble organization (KWACCIMA). I therefore thank the organization for counting me worthy of presiding over this very important occasion.

The role of KWACCIMA in the day-to-day affairs of any State is quite critical. Kwara Chamber of Commerce should therefore step up its efforts to drive this organization to a reckoning status whereby all businessmen and women as well as to involve other stakeholders to come together to build a strong and virile Chamber to the admiration of all and sundry.

Your Excellency, distinguished Senator, our traditional rulers, ladies and gentlemen here present, I am very much aware of the notable activities of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KWACCIMA) in the provision of employment to our teeming unemployed graduates through the establishment of industries - small, medium and large scale enterprises.

The roles of the Private Sector concern like KWACCIMA add more value to the economy of the state and the nation at large. Let me at this stage encourage your organization to partner seriously with the Federal, State and Local Governments with the intention to collaborate with them in the reconstruction of the battered economy.

It is essential that when your Chamber forms a synergy with these three tiers of Governments, solutions will be found to resuscitate some of these moribund industries through guaranteeing of loans through the Bank of Industry. There is no doubt, that when these moribund industries are resuscitated, more employment will be provided under Public, Private Partnership. I hope your organization should take it as a point of duty to form the appropriate synergy with these three tiers of government so as to foster unity and cooperation.

I am very glad to note the effort of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed in providing your organization with ten (10) hectres of land at Lasoju-Ogbomoso road as your Permanent Trade Fair Ground and for giving you a matching order to ensure you organize a befitting Trade Fair this year 2017.

This I am sure you can achieve and you can count on the support of KWHA on this matter. I commend the Governor for this genuine concern to partner with your Chamber as this will form the basis upon which you and Government will jointly drive the economy of the state to a lofty height.

For people to know what your Chamber stands for you need to sensitize them through workshops, seminar and advocacy on radio and television to enable the populace know what activities you embark upon and what people should gain from your chamber at long run.

Having listened to your ten-point agenda as elucidated in the President's Acceptance Speech, I am convinced that if you work assiduously with the agenda, KWACCIMA will go to places as it will change the face of the state economically. I appeal to the State and Local Governments to stretch their hands of fellowship to KWACCIMA through donations to build a befitting Trade Fair Complex this year.

Let me assure you that the House of Assembly remains a genuine partner in the drive to move Kwara State forward, especially in the promotion of economic development and in raising the standard of living across all spectrums of our human capital assets. Consequently, the House will be receptive to the contribution of the Chamber through the sponsoring of a bill that will add value to the economic and social well-being of the people of Kwara State including the business community.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it may also interest you to know that as part of our contribution to accelerated economic development of the state, especially in the agricultural sector, the Kwara State House of Assembly has acquired 150 hectres of farmland this year for farming this season. This is to demonstrate to all and sundry that agriculture remains the surest avenue for economic reengineering to take the state and the nation at large out of the present economic challenges.

Finally, I thank you all for the honour done to me to share and facilitate with this vibrant organization on the occasion of the Official Installation of the President. I wish the president, the Executive Officers and the Council in general a successful tenure of office.

Thank you.