The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has disclosed that his administration is building a new political structure in the state.

This is as he also maintained that his government represents the collective aspirations of the Kwara people.

The governor disclosed this during the award ceremony held to honour Kwara's founding fathers, heroes, and achievers, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, on Saturday.

“Senior citizens, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, this administration represents the collective aspirations of our people for progress, development, equitable governance, and respect for the dignity of the human person. This has guided our steps through the past three and half years. Our programmes, projects, and policies have been conceived to give everyone a fair shot.

“We are as focused on infrastructural and human capital development as we are on giving every segment of our state a fair share of what our resources can afford. We are also building a new political culture that respects self-reliance, industry, and healthy competition,” the statement quoted him as saying.

Speaking further, he said the awards underlined his administration's efforts to promote excellence, hard work, patriotism, inclusion, and sustainable development.

“On behalf of the government and people of this state, I congratulate all our awardees. The award is our token of appreciation for what you have done and continue to do make Kwara proud. This award is a strategy to promote excellence and patriotism in our state. It is also a dutiful effort to interrogate and put history in proper perspective,” he said.

“Kwara is a land of great people with impressive footprints, dead or alive; so the list of recipients of this award will widen in the next editions, God willing.

“Over the past three and half years, we have invested so much to refocus the developmental priorities of our state. This has been tough in the face of global economic challenges. Regardless, we are proud of our strides across sectors. Measured against where we are coming from, indices of human capital development have never been so bright, verifiable, and relatable across Kwara State. Even so, we acknowledge the existing gaps and we are committed to beat our own records.

“We are not perfect. We, therefore, need you to continue engaging us in good faith so we can continue improving,” the governor said.

Those who bagged the Lifetime Achievements and Posthumous awards' categories included Nigeria's former Chief Justice Alfa Salihu Modibbo Belgore; former head of Nigeria's secret police General Abdullahi Adangba; Dr. Amuda Aluko; late Chief Josiah Olawoyin; founder of Okin Biscuit and foremost educationist Emmanuel Adesoye; former Senate Leader Olusola Saraki; first lawyer in Northern Nigeria AbdulGaniyu Folorunsho Abdul-Razaq, SAN; living music legend Jayegbade Alao; former Central Bank Governor and Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters Dr. Sarah Alade; the late Ahman Patigi, and the late Chief Judge of the Federal High Court Justice Mahmud Babatunde Belgore.

Others are the late governor Mohammed Alabi Lawal; the late Gen. Tunde Idiagbon; late General Abdulkareem Adisa; late Gen. Lasisi Bamigboye; first Professor of Geology in Africa Prof. Mosobalaje Oyawoye; the late former Minister of Health Alhaji Yahya Madawaki Orioko; former Governor Shaaba Lafiagi; former Governor Cornelius Adebayo; winner of an international academic award Prof. Abdulrazaq Abdulmajeed Alaro; founder of Kam Holdings Alhaji Kamoru Ibitoye Yusuf; founder of Al-Hikmah University Alhaji Abdulraheem Oladimeji; former Vice Chancellor of FUT Minna Prof. Suleiman Adeyemi; Prof. David Babalola; former Minister Amina Ndalolo; Ambassador Zara Omar; and the late football legend Rashidi Yekini; amongst many others.