Date: 2019-11-18

Kwara state Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has said his administration will leave the state better than it met it.

He therefore urged private investors and philanthropists to join hands with his administration to develop the state.

He also commended the various individuals and communities who have been contributing their own quota to the development of Kwara State, citing the Salman Shagaya Foundation's empowerment programmes as a good example of such laudable initiatives.

"I begin this address by first and foremost commending the brains behind the Salman Shagaya Foundation for this laudable intervention - and other things the Foundation has been doing in the past few years," AbdulRazaq said at the official flag off of the 4000 Homes Solar Intervention Project by the Foundation in Ilorin, the state capital.

"This is a development worthy of emulation. This is community service at its best. On behalf of the Government and people of Kwara State, I commend Alhaji Sheriff Shagaya and management of this Foundation for this great initiative."

AbdulRazaq, who was represented at the event by a member of the state House of Assembly Hon. AbdulGafar Ayilara cited various ongoing efforts to rebuild the state, including the recent open bids for construction/rehabilitation of 26 urban roads.

"Our agenda is to bequeath to the coming generation a Kwara that is a proud reference point in the North Central Region and Nigeria. Apart from partnering with private initiatives and investors, our administration is committing huge budgetary allocations to strengthen our infrastructure and reposition our state. By this time next year, God willing, Kwara State Library will have facilities that would make learning enjoyable and inspire our tech-savvy young people to aspire to become the Mark Zuckerbergs of Africa," he added.

Founder of the foundation, Shagaya hailed the governor for simplifying and bringing governance closer to the people.

He said the foundation, which is known for empowerment of poor people, is committed to making life easy for the community as its own way of giving back to the society.

"We at the Salman Shagaya Foundation remain true to our commitment to champion and execute developmental interventions for a better Kwara state. We want to be remembered for devoting our resources, time and energy to alleviate hunger and raise standard of living in the society, Shagaya said.

"I am therefore glad to inform you that the 4,000 homes solar installation project would reach every part of the state, beginning in Omoda and its environs in Ilorin West Local Government today. The train would move round the capital and then the state for the next four months."

The programme witnessed the commissioning of the first 100 of the solar project.