Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has promised to remain committed to the growth of education in the state.

The governor, at the weekend, received the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) merit award for outstanding performance in education.

A statement in Ilorin, the state capital, by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Communications, Dr Femi Akorede, quoted Ahmed saying: "We are not only committed to sustaining the Every Child Counts policy of the past administration but to also taking it to the envisioned level."

Ahmed said his administration would continue to collaborate with all stakeholders in the education sector to ensure that child education and development was achieved on target.

Responding on behalf of other awardees, Ahmed said the award would further motivate his administration to chart a new and better cause for educational development of the state.

He hailed the NUT for recognising his administration's achievements in the Education sector and for its commitment to teachers' interest.

Ahmed said: "It is no longer tenable that teachers' reward is in heaven. We must do everything we can to enhance the welfare of teachers and create an atmosphere that is conducive to effective teaching and learning."

Other recipients of the awards, which took place at the Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja, as part of activities for this year's World Teachers' Day celebration and President's Teachers and Schools Excellence Award, were Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Geidam and his Enugu counterpart, Sullivian Chime.