Date: 2013-05-22

The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has said his administration would establish an Independent Power Project (IPP) to ensure constant electricity across the state.
Governor Ahmed dropped this hint on Monday in his address at the 2013 New Partnership for  Africa Development, NEPAD, (Kwara State) Business and Investment Development Interactive session held at Banquet Hall, Government House, Ilorin, the state capital.
The IPP, expected to come on board within the current tenure of the governor, will provide 100 megawatts of electricity and will be a private and public partnership project.
The governor, who also disclosed that his administration has concluded arrangement to implement various  landmark projects to accelerate economic growth and stimulate rapid job creation, expressed optimism that those projects will improve the welfare of the people and boost economic activities in the state.
"We are also establishing three mega schools that will have comprehensive learning and instructional amenities as well as boarding facilities to raise the standard of learning at secondary schools to global levels" the governor said.
"As an administration, we will continue to   pursue policies and programmes that can promote the rapid expansion of the informal sector for enhanced job creation and systematic growth of our economy.
"In this regard, my administration will this year boost the informal sector with N100 million in micro credit to Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprises. Of this amount, N45 million has been set aside for the 150 youths who recently graduated from our Youth Entrepreneurship Programme. The N100 million will build on the successes of our N250 million intervention from which approximately 28,000 small business owners have benefitted, thanks to the low interest rate and prompt repayment.
"It is in recognition of the critical role of the informal sector in economic growth that the state government, under our NEPAD Programme, has made MSME promotion an important component of Shared Prosperity. This, we believe, will have multiplier effect on wealth generation, job creation and the overall prosperity of our people.
"As my administration nears its second anniversary, I have no hesitation in stating this:  We have fulfilled our electoral promises to the people of Kwara. In up scaling the programmes of the previous administration, we have demonstrated the economic benefits of continuity and rekindled our people's faith in democratic governance" the governor added.
Responding to questions at the interactive session, Governor Ahmed directed the Board of Internal Revenue to review its tax policy and expunge possible double taxation in the system so as to allow prospective entrepreneur to grow in the state.
In his speech at the forum, the Chairman of the occasion, Engineer Lanre Sagaya said NEPAD was to promote African integration by focusing on issues such as creating enabling environment for economic growth just as he commended the initiative of the state government for putting up such wonderful and result oriented programme.
In his lecture titled "Impact of organised private sector on the kwara state economy and problems and prospects of development of industrial clusters" Alhaji Jani Ibrahim who is an industrialist, said interactive of this nature provides useful platform for the private sector to table its challenges before government and provide opportunity for government to communicate its expectations from business owners.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ahmed on Investment, Mr. Yomi Ogunmola, said the forum was born out of government need to create alternative revenue to meet its responsibilities of creating enabling environment for the populace.
The state Chairman of KWACCIMA, Dr Ezekiah Adediji described the concept of PPP as a potent tool to fast rack socio-economic development of the society.
Earlier in his welcome address, the state coordinator and Special Assistant to governor on New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), Prince Olawale Kazeem Olanipekun said the state government is pursuing with strong will, the development of the organised Private Sector and Informal Real Sector to create industrial clusters as foundation for industrialization and growth in the state.