The minister gave the commendation during the 2019 Igbomina Day celebration in Isanlu Isin, Kwara State, on Saturday.

“I want to most sincerely congratulate the organisers of the 2019 Igbomina Day, especially for making the issue of development the focus of the celebration.

“I say this because community development projects like this complement the efforts of the Federal and State Governments to bring development to the people. And we can’t have enough of them,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed, himself an Igbomina, said the developmental needs of the community motivated him to facilitate the development of infrastructure and provision of social services for the people of the area.

“The rehabilitation of some township roads in Oro and Omu Aran, which I facilitated and where work is either completed or ongoing, is an example of such efforts.

“I am also happy to announce that one of my friends, whom I approached for support, has agreed to provide medical equipment for the Primary Health Centre at Oro as well as educational materials for the University of Ilorin. I am making more contacts which I expect to come to fruition soon, and help bring development to our community,” he said.

The minister said the community is also a beneficiary of the Federal Government project for the rehabilitation of the Ilorin-Kabba Road, which will resume as soon as the rains are over and funds are made available.

He said another huge project coming to Kwara State is the recent award, by the Federal Government, of a N58 billion contract for the construction of the Bida-Sachi-Patigi Road and the Napenko Bridge along that road, which links Kwara with two other states, Niger and Kogi.

Alhaji Mohammed said when completed, the bridge, which is the shortest link between the north and the south, will boost economic activities for people in Kwara, Kogi and Niger States.

The biennial Igbomina Day celebration is the largest congregation of all members of the socio-cultural group across Kwara, Osun and Oyo states.

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Speaking at the annual Igbomina Day organised by Omo Ibile Igbomina group at Isanlu-Isin, AbdulRazaq commended the various developmental initiatives championed by local communities and nonprofit bodies. He said such efforts contributed hugely to grassroots development.

“Kwara’s infrastructural deficit is such that government alone cannot address it. As such, we are open to collaboration with private investors, philanthropists, corporate bodies and communities to bridge this gap and bring as much development as possible to our state,” according to AbdulRazaq, who was represented by Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi.

The event was also attended by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and other prominent sons and daughters of Igbomina land.

AbdulRazaq said his administration would spread developmental projects to every part of Kwara State, calling on various community bodies to partner the government in the effort.

“Since this Government came on board on May 29, 2019 we have been committing the meagre resources to attend only to priority projects that serve the people of our state. There have been verifiable attempts to improve the conditions of our roads, deepen people’s access to potable water, prompt payment of salary, and various interventions in the health sector,” AbdulRazaq said.

“As the 2020 budget is being prepared, I can assure you that no part of this state would be left in the cold. We will ensure that developmental projects are spread across the state as part of a deliberate effort to open up our states for investments and collective prosperity, particularly for our traders and farmers who long for easier access to market. I am happy to inform you that the Kwara State Ministry of Education has just advertised bids to renovate selected schools across the state in 2020. This is part of our commitment to a greater Kwara. The Igbomina land, like other parts of the state, is definitely set to benefit from these projects.”

The governor dropped similar message at the Ijagbo Day on Saturday where he was represented by Permanent Secretary (General Services) Odetokun Adegboyega Mobolaji.

He said the government had paid several counterpart funds to attract the support of various development agencies like the World Bank — a key part of a larger strategy to drive growth and human capital and infrastructural development.

“Two examples of such were the N200 million counterpart fund for Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP III) and another N60 million for community development projects. For the latter, communities can apply to the Kwara State Community and Social Development (KWCDA) to have some micro projects sited in their areas and all they are required to do is to pay 10%  of the project cost while the government will add the remaining 90 per cent. This, among many others, is part of our commitment to a greater Kwara,” he said.

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