The All Progressives Congress (APC) led Kwara State government has invested about N20 billion in education sector alone in the last three and a half years.
The state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq disclosed this during the annual general meeting and awards presentation by the Popo Igbonna Progressives Union (PIPU)in Ilorin, the state capital.
Represented by his special adviser on Strategy, Alh Saadu Salahu, the governor said: ” We have revived the education sector from the rot we met on ground in 2019. Our administration has in the last three and a half years invested about N20bn in the education sector because of the importance we attach to the future of our youths”.
AbdulRazaq hailed the president and other members of PIPU for their initiative in the community development, especially in education, noting that education is the best investment any society can invest in.
” We commend Popo Igbonna community for their efforts and initiative of building a community primary school. This is in line with the vision of our administration. We had to pay the sum of N30m for WAEC as fine for students involved in examination malpractices for them to be able to write WAEC in Kwara State.
“We also paid the counterfeit fund for UBEC and have on table N14bn for basic schools renovation. Also over 600 schools have been renovated while we employed
5000 competent and qualified teachers in addition to providing conducive learning environment.
“Unlike the sickening era of the past administration when workers’ salary was not paid, we have ensured prompt payment of salary, regular promotion with cash backing and implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage.
“In the past, there was no industry, but today, our administration has almost completed the Innovation Hub, garment industry, and international conference centre,” the governor added.
AbdulRazaq,therefore, assured the union of his support in the development of the community-based primary school.
Earlier, the president of PIPU, Alh Yusuf Abdullahi, had listed the objectives of the union to include the improvement of social and infrastructural facilities in the area.
He said the union which has existed for over 40 years had in the 70s constructed the bridge linking Alagbede compound with other compounds in the community.
Explaining that the union prioritises educational development, Abdullahi said the union used to organise a summer school for the youths in the area during long vacations and as well purchased JAMB forms and pay NECO/ WAEC fees for them.
Dignitaries that attended the event included a close ally of the governor, Dr Ghali Alaaya, Magaji Aare, Alh Aremu Zubair, special assistant on Religion (Islam), Alh Ibrahim Danmaigoro and a human resources management consultant, Alh. Ibrahim Abdullahi, amongst others.
