Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara on Saturday in Ilorin, promised to make the welfare of civil servants in the state a top priority.

The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the state government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold, said this at the flag off of the maiden civil service games.

Gold, who promised to participate in the Badminton event of the games, challenged the civil servants on regular exercise saying it would make them healthy.

He said the governor was happy about their performance and noted that no state in the country treated their civil servants better than Kwara.

The state's head of service (HOS), Alhaji Dabarako Muhammed, told the participants who graced the Endurance Trek that such exercise would henceforth be a monthly one.

He emphasised the benefits of regular exercise to the body and called on the civil servants to make it a priority.

He pledged a special prize from the office of the head of service to the best ministry at the end of the six-day event.

The permanent secretary ministry of sports and youth development, Mrs Rhoda Ajiboye, in her remarks, thanked those who came out for the exercise.

She challenged them on the spirit of sportsmanship when the games begin proper on Monday at the state stadium complex.

Ajiboye said that the state governor is expected to officially declare the games open on Monday afternoon.

She highlighted Volleyball, Football, Badminton among others as events to be competed for and urged participants to be at the venues on time.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise lasted more than one hour.

NAN also reports that the SSG, HOS, permanent secretaries of various ministries, directors and other top government functionaries were in attendance. (NAN)