Date: 2021-11-13

The National President of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), Alhaji Aliyu Otta Uthman, fsi, has assured the people of Ilorin Emirate of the commitment of the Union under his leadership towards the completion of its ongoing Skills Acquisition Centre, saying that the project would not be abandoned.

Alhaji Uthman stated this on Tuesday when he conducted some visiting members of the Union in diaspora around the project which is located within the precinct of the Union's National Secretariat, Geri Alimi area, Ilorin.

The IEDPU President said that the completion of the project is a cardinal programme of his administration as it is also of utmost concern to the Union because of the conviction that its completion would address some of the socio-economic challenges of the young people of the Emirate.

Alhaji Uthman added that the Union was committing all it was able to raise at the opening ceremony of its last year's conference to the project as he said that members of the National Executive Council of the Union have also made reasonable individual financial contributions to the project.

While saying that the project has not attained the level he envisaged because of the paucity of funds, Alhaji Uthman assured that no stone would be left unturned at ensuring its completion as soon as it is practically possible.

Alhaji Uthman thanked all those who contributed in one way or the other to the project so far, saying that their generosity and patriotism are well appreciated. He was particularly grateful to members of the Project Implementation Committee as well as workers for the quality job done so far.

The retired intelligence technocrat, who said that the project was being executed through direct labour, encouraged indigenes of Ilorin Emirate, most especially those who are based at home, to find time to visit the project site near the Union's National Secretariat for them to appreciate the level of work done so far.

He thanked the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for his unflinching support as he also thanked His Royal Highness, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji(Dr)Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR, for his encouragement. Alhaji Uthman also expressed his appreciation to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Dr Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, and other patriots who offered and redeemed their pledges towards the success of the project .

Alhaji Uthman, however, encouraged those who have either not offered or yet to redeem their pledges to do so "for the love of our people" as he assured that all monies donated would be judiciously expended on the project.

The IEDPU President hinted that the opening ceremony of the Union's forthcoming 56th National Conference, which holds next month, would also be used to raise more funds towards the completion of the project within record time as he urged every indigene and friend of the Emirate to prove their patriotism and fraternity by contributing their widow's mites either in cash or material towards the completion of the project. He concluded by emphasising that the project was aimed at securing the future of ordinary young men and women of the community.

Signed:

Abubakar Imam,