• We want to become a hub for conferencing: Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday received applause from the National Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) for his administration’s investments in critical infrastructure and projects that can drive rapid economic growth and make the state a hub.

President of the NIPR, Dr Ikechukwu Neliaku, gave the commendation in Ilorin, the state capital, when he led a delegation of the Institute to Government House on a courtesy visit.

Neliaku said some of the ongoing legacy projects in the state, such as Innovation Hub and International Conference Centre, are strategic and would place Kwara on the global map.

“We have noted that you are doing some legacy projects. Some people come, they do projects and all that. But when leaders are not conscious of their legacy after they have left offices, their image goes down. And because we are managers of image and reputation, we look out for those who are planting seeds of legacies," he said.

"The projects that really caught our fancy are the ICT Innovation Hub and International Conference Centre, among others. This is very, very important.

“You are building an International Conference Centre in Ilorin. For those who do not understand what that means, you are opening up Ilorin for global attention. You are building Kwara state as a regional hub. We also notice your fiscal responsibility and prudence in managing the affairs of governance."

The delegation comprised the President; NIPR Vice President Prof Emmanuel Dandaura; Dr Ahmed Sajoh; Dr Saudat Abdulbaqi; Mr Franklyn Ginger-Eke; Mr Stanley Osadigo; Oloriewe Raheem Adedoyin; acting Chairman NIPR for Kwara state Mr Ishola Gbega Emmanuel; and the Secretary Alhaji AbdulRahman Sanni.

The Governor received them alongside Chief of Staff Prince AbdulKadir Mahe; Senior Advisor and Counsellor Sa'adu Salau (also NIPR member); Commissioner for Communications Bola Olukoju; and Alhaji Abdulrazaq Jiddah.

Dr Neliaku described AbdulRazaq as an inclusive and digital governor, acknowledging the Governor's belief in young people, gender inclusion, and other feats in human capital development.

He commended the Governor's approval of a capacity building programme for information and Public Relations Officers who are working in various government's establishments in the state, and for being supportive of the NIPR.

He also briefed the Governor of some of the institute's programmes, such as REBIRTH NIGERIA, which holds later in March and June.

“We are also pursuing what we call REBIRTH NIGERIA. Rebirth stands for reinventing the essence, beauty, integrity, resourcefulness, and traditional heritages of Nigeria,” he said, asking the Governor to convince his colleagues at the NGF to buy into the concept.

“We are doing it on Four Pillars, and it is a programme of research. First is the pillar of values reorientation. Second is the principle of citizens’ education. Third is the principle of excellence in service delivery. And lastly is the pillar of promotion of Made in Nigeria products," he said.

Time has come for Nigerians to reinvent their values as a people, and for the country to retrain and reconstruct the mindsets of the citizens for nation building.

Governor AbdulRazaq, for his part, said the choice of his legacy projects is to position Kwara as a hub for service economy, which attracts investments and creates jobs for the people.

“What we are trying to do here is to build an ecosystem, a hub for conferencing. You have sold the idea of conferences in just a few words. But why are we building a conference centre here? People really need to understand that a conference centre and hotels are a catalyst for national development as it births a strong service economy,” the Governor said.