For Abdullahi Basheer Muhammed, a Kano based architect, and his colleague Muhammed Gidado, also an architect, Kwara State has in recent time become a second home. Since 2011, when their company –Poly Dimensional Project- began working on a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) project at Offa Grammar School, coming to Kwara for them has been on a regular basis. But compared to Kano, the commercial center of the North, during their earlier visits, the two men saw Ilorin, where they normally reside as lower in standard.
Today, this impression has changed as a result of the current level of infrastructural development in the city.

Last week in Ilorin, the duo of Muhammed and Gidado displayed so much enthusiasm when this reporter accosted them at the Shoprite on Fate road where they came to pick some items. They admitted that the shopping mall and the well-tarred roads in the city have shored up the profile of the state.

"We have been coming to Ilorin in the last two years on regular basis but our experience in the last few months is better than when we started coming, especially with the presence of this modern shopping mall. Among other things, one is sure of quality products at competitive prices and access to different items within a mall. It would surprise you to know that in the last two days, we have visited for more than five times and bought items worth over N500, 000. And come to think of it, the computer accessories we bought are things we can hardly find in Kano. In fact, we were planning to travel to Dubai after this time out and make the purchase until my colleague called me yesterday that he had sighted them here," Abdulahi said.

The story of these two men represents what an average Kwaran experience these days. Two other people: Mrs. Olaoluwa Semirat and Mrs. Islamiyat Bello, both civil servants, pointed out that the subtle customer relations of the sales personnel at Shoprite are enough to attract customers.

Purchasing Power Still Low
The Operation Manager of the mall, Mr. Sule Bello, who said he had worked in various cities before his posting to Ilorin, described the support the mall get from relevant government agencies and security operatives as equal to none. He also spoke glowingly about the residents' appreciation of their services but admitted that the purchasing power of in Kwara is still low compared to places like Abuja and Lagos.
"Based on the feedbacks we get daily from members of the public, the opening of the shopping mall in Ilorin with the presence of global names in retail business, Kwara social status has changed. The beauty of it all is that people travel in from outside Ilorin metropolis to make purchase. This notwithstanding, the mall still records lower sales compared to Lagos but we are confident that the future is bright, given the responses received from members of the public and cooperation we are getting from government, the police and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria that have provided conducive environment, security and power respectively," the operation manager said.

Diagnostic Centre, Aviation College
If the story of Shoprite and other retail shops that are currently operating in Ilorin have changed the social status of the city, the establishment of the International Aviation College and Kwara Advanced Diagnostic Center has entrenched the name of the state in the international arena. While the Aviation School is located very close to the Ilorin International Airport for strategic reasons, the diagnostic center is on the new Yidi Road.

Barely two years after the Aviation College began flight training with 12 pioneer students, the number of students has since gone up. At present, preparations for the graduation ceremony of eight students who completed their training as commercial pilots a few weeks ago has begun. While handing over two additional aircraft to the existing four in the college last week, the state Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed restated the determination of the government to use the school as a fulcrum for international attention for Kwara State and the hub of aviation training in the country.

"We are not relenting as a government to use the Aviation College as a springboard for global positioning. Already, we have crossed the first hurdle, having summoned the courage to establish it. Now we are putting in place sustainable structures and facilities that would rival similar institutions across the world," he said.

Earlier, the Head of Training at the college, Capt. Abdulkareem Nuhu Abdulmumin, told THISDAY that the last two years had been very exciting. He described the completion of training of eight out of its pioneer students as a landmark achievement, which has been commended by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority. According to him, the eight students, who were certified fit as commercial pilots by the authority are judged based on instrument rating and multi-engine understanding.
On how the college was able to achieve this height within two years, the training officer, who was the first Nigerian UK CAA Authorised CRM/MCC instructor examiner, traced the root to the genuine interest of former Governor Bukola Saraki and Ahmed, who succeeded him, to establish a standard college. He also pointed out that the crop of technical staff and board members in the college had made the journey smooth.

"In all sincerity, I think we must commend the state government for the vision to establish a standard institution. In the aviation industry, standard cannot be compromised and Kwara State knows this and has worked by that belief from day one till date. Again, we can be proud of experienced people in the industry, who can match their contemporaries anywhere in the world. This coupled with the fact that we abide by the rules and regulations of the industry, which has helped us to grow so fast. Don't forget, we don't regulate ourselves, that is done by the Aviation authority, who is also the chief examiner."

Speaking further, he stated that the college had started attracting corporate organisations both local and international. He particularly made reference to the Nigerian Air Force that recently gave the college 25 students to be trained after accessing the school's training qualities and facilities.

Some of the facilities in the school, according to one of the students, who recently completed the training, Usman Abdulahi from Patigi Local Government, include simulator rooms, classrooms and operation rooms. Others include hangers, hostel and well-equipped administrative departments.

Another important project that has impacted on residents of Kwara State is the advanced diagnostic center, which was said to have started drawing clients from within and outside the state. 47 years-old Abdullah Oseni, a civil servant, who spoke on his experience when he came to diagnose his hypertensive case recently, described the facilities and experts in the center as world class.

"This is my second time of visiting the centre and I can confidently say this is the best around. One thing I discovered is that it parades well-trained medical personnel and sophisticated equipment."

Chief of Account and Human Resources at the Centre, Nana Hauwa Omeiza, who was until her appointment a top player in the banking sector, said the centre was established to provide high-class medical services as well as generating revenue for government.
To achieve the aims for which it was established, the centre has a well-managed marketing department that is currently selling its ideals and attracting patronage from smaller hospitals within and outside Kwara State.

Omeiza said she was sure the rate at which Nigerians travel abroad for diagnosis would be reduced henceforth when Nigerians are fully aware of the stuff the center is made of.

"We have here new equipment in the technological world and I know this would save us a lot of money and prevent frequent travelling abroad for diagnosis. Today, we have started attracting clients from private and government hospitals that before now would have travelled abroad for services. The experience has been extremely good because in line with government directives, the service is affordable and of high standard. Members of the public who initially thought our prices would hit the roof top have since realised it was established to take care of the need of the people and not to strain them," she stated.

Akorede: Development Not Limited to Ilorin
Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Media, Dr. Femi Akorede, has said the development in the state is not limited to Ilorin alone, stating that the rehabilitation of Offa, Share, Kaiama, Omu Aran General Hospitals, laid credence to this.

He also pointed out that a lot is being done to develop the rural and urban areas, which include construction of more than 40 rural roads, electrification projects, rehabilitation of classrooms across the state, supply of drugs to 13 general hospitals and 43 cottage hospitals.

When asked to give the stake of government in the Shoprite project, he said: "Government has no stake in Shoprite. However, it holds a 30 per cent stake in Kwara Mall, the sprawling complex where Shoprite is located, while the remainder is held by a private company."

On the feedback from residents in respect of the establishment of the diagnostic center and the Aviation School, Akorede said majority of people were pleased that such vital and prestigious establishments are located in the state.

He said: "The Aviation College is the first to be owned by a state government in the sub region while the Advanced Diagnostic Center has some of the best diagnostic equipment in the country. People are also pleased that these establishments have generated a lot of employment for the people of the state and, with respect to the Aviation College and Cargo Terminal, Kwara is gradually evolving into an aviation hub."