The Kwara State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Dr. Abubakar Amuda-Kannike, has urged public office holders, philanthropists, corporate organisations and donor agencies to pay more attention to community development, poverty alleviation and people's empowerment.

He spoke during the inauguration of Zango Ward Clinic and Maternity in Ilorin on Sunday.

At the occasion, 60 aged women and widows from Ilorin East Local Government Area were empowered, while school bags and clothes were given to pupils.

The commissioner said N11.5m was used to complete and equip the hospital which was initiated by the past administration of late Alhaji Abubakar Lawal.

He added that N6m was spent to empower the widows and aged women, while N2.5m was on free medical screening for blood pressure and diabetes and relevant medications.

Amuda-Kannike said, "Public servants must have the interest of their people at heart. We must not forget that there are people at home whom we are representing. We must be able to contribute our own part to community development and we must be able to identify the right project where we should intervene.

"We should look around us and be sensitive to the plight of the people. I am surprised to find out that 80 per cent of the people screened are hypertensive and they do not even know it."

He stated that the gesture were his personal contributions to the development and poverty alleviation of members of his community.

He added the interventions were also in tandem with the policy thrust of the Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed's administration that there should be access to quality health care within 500 radius of people's residence in the state.

The commissioner also said youth empowerment was germane to societal progress and to enhancement of security of lives and property.

The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold, urged public officials to have the interest of their communities at heart and invest in their development.

He stated that the state government would continue to accord priority to quality health care delivery, employment generation, poverty alleviation and people's empowerment.