By Emma Ogbuehi
Kwara State Government will soon launch a business scheme specifically designed for young people who are interested in becoming entrepreneurs, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has said. The initiative to be known as Kwapreneur is aimed at encouraging the youths to actualize their potential.
Speaking with the State delegation to the Nigerian Youths Parliament on Tuesday, the Governor also urged the youths to get involved in politics and make themselves the critical mass that would end a culture of politicians doling out public funds at the expense of investments in infrastructure, education, and health.
The meeting was attended by Hon. AbdulKareem AbdulKareem (Kwara Central); Hon. Salihu Ismail (Kwara North); and Hon. Adeola Adedoyin (Kwara South), among others.
“Very soon, we are launching Kwapreneur for our youths. We are determined to change the story of Kwara from civil service state to an enterprising state where youths can get up and achieve their goals. What the government can do is to provide the environment to excel and we are providing seed capitals for this,” AbdulRazaq told the youths.
“We need to start thinking differently to secure the future of the youths. That is why we are coming up with innovation hub for our students and youths to start thinking in a new direction, by being enterprising, learn coding at the innovation hub and development of software. COVID-19 has shown us that people have started working from home and do things differently.
“Our target is to make Kwara number one in education and innovation in north central and the whole north. We are nowhere now. There would be no need for our graduates to move to Yaba innovation hub. We will make the environment conducive and make Kwara a hub for technology and visual arts. With partnership with KWASU, we are going to develop a masterclass for cinematography. That will help the youths to develop ideas.”
He said the government is open to suggestions from young people, including the youths’ parliament, on the Kwapreneur and other upcoming initiatives specially designed for “those of you who are the future of our communities.”
AbdulRazaq said attendance in public health facilities has doubled since he assumed office owing to his investment in primary healthcare, including prompt payment of counterpart funds and gradual fixing of facilities.
The administration is committed to making the right investment in infrastructure, taking the right decisions, and giving Kwara the right foundation to steadily shake off underdevelopment and poverty, the Governor said, adding that he is focused on development rather than getting bogged down in the politics of second term.
Tomorrow belongs only to God Almighty, he observed.
The Governor also urged the youths to get involved in politics and use their numerical strengths to demand for development politics.
“Engagement in politics is important. As parliamentarians, you need to reach out to your people to let them know their rights. Somebody coming to give you money and not fixing your schools is not serving your best interest. That is where we want to go in politics. We are not sharing money. We need to lay the right foundation for the next generation,” he said.
“We must stop the idea of sharing money at the expense of what truly matters. Let’s fix our schools. Let’s fix our hospitals. Let’s be able to pay bursaries to poor students who are suffering, among other issues of development.”
Abdulkareem, who spoke on behalf of the youths’ parliament, commended the Governor for his investments in basic amenities and his inclusion of youths and women in his cabinet.
He urged the Governor to do more, including creating an office for humanitarian affairs, state chapter of the youths’ parliament, and local government offices for the ministry of youths and sports in the state.
He said the Nigerian Youth Parliament is a creation of the United Nations General Assembly in 2008 and initiated in Nigeria by the then President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2008.
“We are the fourth session of the Nigerian Youth Parliament and ever since the inception of your administration, we are lucky to work with your administration especially for giving so much opportunities for youths to serve. We are proud of you as our Governor,” he said.
AbdulKareem urged the administration to work more with the Youths Parliament to attract more opportunities for the young people in the state.
