Date: 2018-02-06

Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed's administration is set to scale up education in the state.

Late last year the state launched the International Vocational and Entrepreneurship College (IVTEC) in Ajase-Ipo. It also started building two other campuses of Kwara State University (KWASU) in Ilesha-Baruba and Osi, Baruten and Ekiti local government areas of the state.

The governor laid the foundation of the IVTEC in September 2012 in line with his commitment to youth empowerment and human capital development.

The establishment of Malete main campus and other KWASU campuses is aimed at positioning the institution to produce highly skilled graduates that will become top players in the competitive global economy of the 21st century.

All these capital projects in spite of the lean resources of the state government are being executed through the state Infrastructure Development Fund (IFK) established in 2016.

The governor said, "When I inaugurated the Kwara State Infrastructure Development Fund (IFK) in 2016, I made a commitment to initiate and complete new and ongoing infrastructure projects.

"Our government has since made good on that commitment with the commencement of new projects such as the Geri Alimi Diamond Underpass and a new campus for the Kwara State University at Ilesha Baruba.

"As we flag off construction of Kwara State University, Ekiti Campus, this project provides an eloquent testimony to the fact that IFK has strengthened our government's capacity to meet its obligations despite the current economic challenges.

Also, this event validates our commitment to the three-campus model for KWASU, as enshrined in its blueprint, following the ongoing work at the Ilesha Baruba site of the university.

"It similarly underlines our determination to expand access to quality higher education while providing cutting edge skills and research for industry.

"In keeping with current local realities and global trends, the three campuses of KWASU are designed to eventually run on a sustainable platform without subvention from the state government.

"This means they must run on a model that guarantees efficiency by offering courses that are market relevant and are in demand by the growing number of applicants within and outside the country.

"We are building on the legacy of the previous administration, which established the university, and bringing the KWASU multi-campus model to reality, among others, our administration has demonstrated, in concrete terms, the value and importance of continuity in governance.

"Only a government of continuity like ours could have believed in and up-scaled the vision of the university's founders.

Indeed, the quality of infrastructure and programs at the institution, KWASU is at the vanguard of the state government's resolve to make education functional and economy based.

In this regard, the Kwara state government designed the curriculum at IVTEC in partnership with the Nigerian Employers' Consultative Association (NECA) to guarantee that the education received at the center meets the mid-level manpower needs of today's employers.

"Similarly, the KWASU campus in Ilesha Baruba is strategically located in the agrarian belt of the state to provide students with the opportunity of hands-on experience and boost the region.

"In addition, the KWASU School for Business and Governance, Ilorin is poised to provide middle level professionals with access to quality post graduate education that will enhance their leadership and professional skills.

"On its part, the KWASU Ekiti campus will groom scientists and thinkers that will proffer practical solutions to the various problems that plague the country."

Governor Ahmed solicited for closer links between tertiary education and the country's economic and technological aspirations to ensure that education is more relevant to our national objectives.

On IVTEC, he said his administration needs a sum of N13 billion in the next five years, to expand the college.

He added that the state had invested approximately N3.2 billion on campus construction, furniture, fittings, partnerships, basic training equipment and tools here at IVTEC.

"We therefore seek the partnerships from local, national and internal bodies so that we can upscale IVTEC to the level envisaged as its establishment". Governor Ahmed said that the vision to establish the College was to equip youths with skills for self-reliance, tackle unemployment, and ease access to vocational training of international standard for students from a variety of skills and educational backgrounds.