Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has been hailed by the Federal Government as a model for compliance with Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC) contractual guidelines.

The commendation came during the bid-opening ceremony for the first and second quarters of the 2024 Federal Government/UBEC/State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) intervention projects in Ilorin. Elder Edward Abalaka, North Central Zonal Director of UBEC, praised the governor's administration for its consistent adherence to project execution protocols.

Over 258 contractors submitted bids for tenders advertised in both local and national newspapers. The projects include constructing and renovating classrooms, building VIP toilets, fabricating teachers' and pupils' furniture, installing motorised solar boreholes, and procuring essential educational equipment.

Abalaka said Kwara under Governor AbdulRazaq has been a pace setter in the area of compliance with the necessary procedures as far as the execution of UBEC intervention projects is concerned.

He urged the contractors to execute the projects in line with the specifications, warning that poor execution and abandonment of the projects would not be tolerated.

Chairman of the Board, Prof Sheu Raheem Adaramaja, said the projects were crucial to enhancing the learning environment, promoting quality education, and ultimately benefiting the students, teachers, and communities.

"We expect a competitive bidding process, and we assure you that our evaluation will be transparent, fair, and compliant with procurement regulations," he said.

"As we move forward I encourage stakeholders to work together to ensure that these projects are delivered efficiently, effectively and to the specifications".

The Chairman said that the Governor has also newly paid into the Board's account a counterpart fund for the assessment of the 3rd and 4th quarters of 2024, announcing that the Board will soon advertise for a tender.

"The Board has placed advert on local and national newspapers for tenders in eight categories, such as the construction of a block of two classrooms with an office (70 classrooms with 35 offices), construction of VIP Toilet (28 locations), remodeling of classrooms (110 classrooms, fabrication of teachers & pupils furniture (4652/391 units), and drilling and installation of motorized solar borehole (11 locations," he said.

"Other projects are the procurement of brand new Toyota Hiace 18 seater bus (2023 Model) for Quality Assurance Directorate (1 Number), ECCDE plastic chairs and tables (170 sets) and safe school initiative in the selected schools in Asa, Kaiama, Offa, Ilorin West, and Ilorin South LGAs."

Adaramaja commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his administration's commitment to educational development, and the support being enjoyed by the federal government through the Universal Basics Education Board (UBEC).

Speaking on behalf of the bidders, Alhaji Maroof Ahmed, described the process as open and transparent, assuring that they would deliver the projects according to specifications.

The event was equally attended by Kwara House of Assembly member, representing Afon Constituency, Hon Yunusa Oniboki; representative of the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Muhammed Mansur Maccido; and representative of Acting Head of Service, Kwara state, Alhaji Abdulwasiu Alaya; among other dignitaries.