The Kwara State Governor, Abdulfattah Ahmed has expressed the readiness of his government to accord priority to the welfare, training and re training of artisans in the state for them to compete favourably with their colleagues outside the country.

The governor who gave the assurance at the inauguration of Kwara State Artisans in Ilorin noted that his government has earmarked two hundred and fifty million naira as loans for artisans and urged them to form cooperatives in order to benefit.

Before now, artisans in the state were fragmented and divided into factions with constant wrangling and crisis which had hampered their economic growth.

The government therefore saw the need to bring together the 47 trade groups seriously embroiled in intra and inter union conflicts that is capable of undermining the security of the state.

The artisans who came out in their hundreds were gaily dressed in special attire for the occasion.

With the oath of office and inauguration of the 21- member executive of the new association, known as Kwara State Artisans Congress, they were charged to be united and always plan for their success in their endeavours.

Governor Ahmed while presenting them with the new constitution described artisans as the engine of the economy and enumerated various programmes of his government to improve their wellbeing.