Kwara Rising

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  • Gov AbdulRazaq Hails Milestone as Kwara Sugar Film Studios Unveils First Movie ‘Ajuwaya’

    Gov AbdulRazaq Hails Milestone as Kwara Sugar Film Studios Unveils First Movie ‘Ajuwaya’

    …The state-owned studio, supported by Nigeria’s First Lady, releases its debut production as Kwara strengthens its position in Nigeria’s creative industry.

    Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has commended the unveiling of Ajuwaya Series, the first movie produced at the state’s Sugar Factory Film Studios, describing it as a major step forward for the film and entertainment sector in Nigeria.

    The film, 85 per cent of which was produced at the studio, was supported by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who contributed N350 million to the project.

    Speaking during a media briefing in Ilorin on Tuesday, the Managing Director of Sugar Factory Film Studios, Gbenga Titiloye, said Ajuwaya signals the beginning of a new phase for creative work in Nigeria, highlighting the Governor’s foresight and the growing appeal of Kwara as a destination for film production.

    “What the Governor has achieved here is remarkable because this is the only fully functional film studio in Africa, and most of this production was done here,” Titiloye said.

    He also thanked Senator Tinubu for her support, describing her gesture as an investment in Nigeria’s creative future and an effort to showcase local talent to global audiences.

    Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Princess Olubukola Babalola, encouraged young people to use the studio to develop skills and build careers in the creative industry. She said the project would drive economic growth and position Kwara as a leader in film and culture.

    Commissioner for Communications, Hon. Bolanle Olukoju, said the film’s production created more than 1,200 jobs for people including designers, caterers, transporters, and artisans, reflecting the wide reach of the creative economy.

    General Manager of the Studio and Producer of Ajuwaya, Grace Babasola, said the project reflects the Governor’s confidence in the potential of young creatives to shape the future of Nigeria’s film industry.

    “Ajuwaya is only the beginning,” she said. “It shows that when opportunity meets passion, great stories can emerge that entertain and inspire.”

  • Army Deploys Full Brigade to Kwara Forests as AbdulRazaq Hails Tinubu’s Intervention

    Army Deploys Full Brigade to Kwara Forests as AbdulRazaq Hails Tinubu’s Intervention

    The Nigerian Army has deployed a full brigade, supported by heavy equipment, to parts of Kwara State in a renewed onslaught against kidnappers operating from the forests.

    Troops and machinery were on Wednesday seen moving through communities in Ifelodun Local Government, particularly around Oke Ode and Babanla, ahead of intensified operations. The operation is also extending to Edu and Patigi local governments, where dense forests have served as hideouts for kidnappers staging attacks and abductions for ransom.

    Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who had raised the matter with President Bola Tinubu over the weekend during a visit to Jos, commended the President for approving the deployment and the military high command for their intervention.

    “We will not spare any resources in support of the military, DSS, police, and other security agencies as they work to strengthen security of lives and properties,” AbdulRazaq said in a statement.

    He expressed confidence that the operation, being conducted under Operation Fasan Yanma, would clear out all threats in the affected areas. “We are confident that the Brigadier General A.A. Babatunde-led Army Brigade will succeed in this important task and restore lasting calm,” the governor added.

    AbdulRazaq also thanked the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Army Staff, and the General Officer Commanding 2 Division of the Nigerian Army for their continued support.

    The deployment follows weeks of coordinated attacks by kidnappers in Kwara South and parts of Kwara North, which left several residents dead and many abducted.

  • Kwara Trains 200 Schoolchildren in Artificial Intelligence

    Kwara Trains 200 Schoolchildren in Artificial Intelligence

    … Govt partners Digital Equity Africa on ‘Future Minds AI Bootcamp’

    #KwaraRising

    The Kwara State Government has trained at least 200 schoolchildren from across the state on how to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to think, create, and solve real-world problems.

    The five-day programme, tagged Future Minds Independence AI Bootcamp, was organised in partnership with Digital Equity Africa and held between October 1 and 5, 2025. Participants were drawn from both public and private primary and junior secondary schools through what organisers described as a seamless selection process.

    Speaking at the grand finale in Ilorin on Sunday, Managing Director of the Ilorin Innovation Hub, Temi Kolawole, said the government’s sponsorship of the 200 participants underscores its commitment to digital inclusion among young people.

    “It is very impressive to see young kids under the age of 10 presenting websites they built, storybooks they authored, and even music they composed with the help of AI. If they can do this at this stage, we can imagine what they will achieve in the next five to ten years,” Kolawole said.

    He added that such early exposure fosters curiosity, innovation, and creativity.

    CEO of Digital Equity Africa, Mrs Justina Nnam Oha, said the bootcamp was not only about teaching technology but also about shaping mindsets and nurturing innovation.

    “Over the past few days, these children have explored the fascinating world of Artificial Intelligence, learning how machines think, create, and solve real-world problems. They have collaborated, built, and imagined boldly – proving that the future belongs to the curious, courageous, and creative,” she said.

    Mrs Oha commended the Kwara State Government and the Ilorin Innovation Hub for their commitment to digital literacy and inclusion, stressing that the initiative ensures that children, regardless of background, have access to opportunities of tomorrow.

    Participants, including Abdulkareem Khadijat, Ahmed Imam Ayodeji, and Aminat Akanbi, expressed gratitude to the government and Digital Equity Africa for providing them with a platform to acquire digital skills and become AI-compliant.

  • Gov AbdulRazaq Scraps PTA Levy, Approves Grants for Public Primary Schools

    Gov AbdulRazaq Scraps PTA Levy, Approves Grants for Public Primary Schools

    Textbooks to be distributed free as govt opens fresh UBEC/SUBEB projects

    #KwaraRising

    Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has abolished the payment of Parents Teachers Association (PTA) levy across all public primary schools in the state, replacing it with annual school grants to serve as running costs.

    The Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Shehu Raheem Adaramaja, announced this on Thursday in Ilorin during the bid opening for the 3rd and 4th quarters of the 2024 UBEC/SUBEB intervention projects.

    “The Governor has approved the stoppage of PTA payments in all public primary schools in Kwara. From Primary 1 to 6, no more payment of PTA in the state,” Adaramaja said, confirming that grants will immediately be disbursed to at least 1,717 schools.

    The Chairman also disclosed that the Governor approved the procurement of English and Mathematics textbooks for free distribution to pupils in Primary 1 to 6 across Kwara State.

    Speaking on the intervention projects, Adaramaja said the programme will cover the construction of classrooms, VIP toilets, remodeling and renovation of existing blocks, drilling of solar-powered boreholes, rehabilitation of digital literacy centres, procurement of literacy materials, fabrication of two-seater desks, and safe school initiatives in selected local governments.

    He commended the state government for prioritising investment in school infrastructure, teacher welfare, and human capital development, adding that Governor AbdulRazaq has also approved the payment of the 2025 counterpart funds for UBEC/SUBEB projects.

    Adaramaja urged contractors to deliver quality projects in line with specifications, warning that shoddy jobs will not be tolerated.

    Responding on behalf of the contractors, Alhaji Maroof Ahmed, Secretary of the Indigenous Contractors Association, thanked the government for the opportunity and pledged that members will deliver quality work that meets expectations.

  • Kwara Governor Announces Civilian Security Force Plan After Emergency Talks

    Kwara Governor Announces Civilian Security Force Plan After Emergency Talks

    …Meets Edu, Patigi Leaders Following Attacks, Vows Support for Victims

    Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has revealed plans to establish a locally-recruited civilian task force to bolster security in Kwara North, following an emergency meeting with community leaders from Edu and Patigi Local Government Areas. The announcement came during late-night consultations addressing rising kidnapping incidents and violent attacks in the region.

    The proposed community defense unit will involve residents trained and equipped to work alongside security agencies, creating a layered response to unique local threats. “Details will be fine-tuned through broader stakeholder consultations to ensure effectiveness and sustainability,” the Governor stated, emphasizing this would complement existing security measures.

    AbdulRazaq also pledged direct support for victims of recent violence, including personal visits to affected areas, while vowing that forest guards and hunters killed in recent Ifelodun LGA attacks “will not die in vain.” The meeting further addressed infrastructure needs at the College of Education (Technical) Lafiagi and power supply challenges in the axis.

  • Gov AbdulRazaq Approves Recruitment of 2,600 New Forest Guards in Fresh Security Push

    Gov AbdulRazaq Approves Recruitment of 2,600 New Forest Guards in Fresh Security Push


    Training for new recruits to commence this week as state steps up fight against banditry

    Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved the recruitment of 2,600 additional forest guards as part of intensified efforts to tackle security challenges, particularly in parts of Kwara North and South.

    The new recruits will join the 700 forest guards earlier engaged, who are already working with security agencies on the frontline to combat banditry and protect communities.

    According to the Governor’s media aide, Akeweje Olayinka Fafoluyi, the recruits will begin training this week. Like their predecessors, they will undergo advanced military training, including the handling of sophisticated weapons and modern counter-insurgency strategies.

    The move, Fafoluyi said, underscores Governor AbdulRazaq’s commitment to strengthening the state’s security architecture and ensuring that criminal elements are rooted out to restore lasting peace.

  • Kwara Security Forces Neutralise Notorious Kidnapper Maidawa in Weekend Operations

    Kwara Security Forces Neutralise Notorious Kidnapper Maidawa in Weekend Operations

    …Governor AbdulRazaq visits Oke Ode, meets community leaders as crackdown intensifies across state

    Security forces in Kwara have killed notorious kidnap kingpin Maidawa and several of his associates in fierce engagements over the weekend along the Kwara–Kogi border.

    Intercepted communications obtained by the Department of State Services confirmed Maidawa’s death, which was disclosed to other gang members by another wanted kidnapper, Baccujo, during a conversation with his associates in Katsina State. The message was reportedly passed along the Igboro–Idofin road.

    Maidawa, long feared for orchestrating kidnappings and attacks on civilian populations, was eliminated as part of sting operations in parts of Kwara South and North, following urgent interventions sought by the state government.

    The operations, which are ongoing, are targeting flashpoints where kidnappers have recently operated, including Ekiti, Ifelodun, Isin, Edu, and Patigi local government areas. Security sources said the aim is to dismantle all hideouts used by criminal gangs who abduct people for ransom.

    Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, meanwhile, visited Oke Ode, Ifelodun LGA on Thursday in company of security commanders and top government officials to reassure residents of government’s support and solidarity.

    The Governor addressed community leaders in Oke Ode and is also billed to meet with leaders from Edu and Patigi LGAs later today to brief them on coordinated efforts between the state government, Federal Government, and security agencies to keep communities safe.

    “The renewed operations are meant to send a strong signal that criminals have no hiding place in Kwara,” the Governor told residents, urging calm and cooperation with security agencies.

    Authorities say the crackdown will continue until all threats are eliminated and peace is restored across the affected areas.

  • Kwara Govt Issues Security Advisory as Troops Raid Kidnappers’ Hideouts

    Kwara Govt Issues Security Advisory as Troops Raid Kidnappers’ Hideouts

    …Residents in Ekiti, Ifelodun, Isin, Oke Ero, and Irepodun LGAs urged to stay vigilant, limit outdoor movement

    The Kwara State Government has advised residents, particularly those living in communities within Ekiti, Ifelodun, Isin, Oke Ero, and Irepodun Local Government Areas, to exercise caution and limit non-essential movements as security operations against kidnappers intensify.

    The advisory comes amid heightened raids by combined security forces on suspected criminal hideouts in border areas between Kwara and Kogi States.

    “We urge people to be very vigilant and limit their movements to only very necessary routines. That is to avoid being caught unawares as the kidnappers are fleeing their hideouts. We do not want law-abiding citizens to be affected,” the Commissioner for Communications, Bolanle Olukoju, said in a statement on Wednesday.

    Olukoju expressed government’s regret over any temporary inconveniences the advisory may cause, but stressed the need to prioritise public safety.

    She commended the security forces for their renewed onslaught against criminal elements and charged them to sustain the momentum until all hideouts are dismantled and the perpetrators neutralised.

    “The government commends the security forces for the renewed efforts to rout out the criminals and charges them to continue until they are totally flushed out of our forests,” the statement added.

    The government reassured residents of its commitment to supporting security agencies in their mission to restore peace and safety across the state.

  • Gov AbdulRazaq Seeks Stronger Security Presence After Oke Ode Attacks

    Gov AbdulRazaq Seeks Stronger Security Presence After Oke Ode Attacks

    …Governor mourns forest guards, civilians lost in Sunday incident as Army HQ orders GOC relocation to Kwara

    Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has called for increased security deployments across the state following deadly attacks in Oke Ode and surrounding areas of Ifelodun Local Government.

    In a statement on Sunday, the Governor expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of forest guards and residents who fell victim to the early morning assault. He praised the courage of the guards and local hunters who resisted the assailants, saying their sacrifice would never be forgotten.

    “My heartfelt condolences go to the families. No word can adequately capture the depth of my sadness and nothing can compensate the bereaved families over these incidents, in spite of our efforts and the investments in enlisting and training the forest guards to bolster the conventional forces,” he said.

    The Governor acknowledged the concerns of citizens and emphasised that more military presence was needed to fully dislodge criminal elements in parts of Kwara South and Kwara North.

    “While we appreciate the efforts and unquantifiable sacrifices of the security forces as well as the successes so far, we definitely need to do a lot more until we are completely out of the wood,” he added.

    Governor AbdulRazaq also appealed to residents to remain calm and not turn on one another, noting that unity and vigilance were vital in confronting insecurity.

    He commended the forest guards and hunters for their bravery, acknowledging that although five of their members were lost, they were able to neutralise several of the attackers.

    Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army Headquarters has directed the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Ibadan, to immediately relocate to Kwara State to strengthen coordination and boost military response to the incident.

  • Kwara Set to Capture Transporters’ Data for Identification, Policy Planning

    Kwara Set to Capture Transporters’ Data for Identification, Policy Planning

    … Exercise to commence September 22 and 29 across 16 LGAs, free of charge – Govt

    The Kwara State Government has announced plans to begin capturing the data of transport operators across the state for proper identification and improved policy planning.

    The initiative, according to the Commissioner for Transportation, Hon. Lafia Aliyu Korasabi, is aimed at enhancing transparency, ensuring uniformity, and boosting safety within the transport sector. He disclosed this during a consultative engagement with transport union leaders on Wednesday at the Ministry’s headquarters in Ilorin.

    Hon. Lafia explained that the exercise would complement the Kwara State Residential Registration Programme (KWASRRA) by fully integrating transporters into the scheme. He added that the enumeration would also strengthen security, policy planning, and service delivery in the sector.

    The exercise will take place at designated centres across the 16 local government areas, including Offa Garage, Maraba Garage, Saw-Mill Garage, Oko-Olowo/Oloje Axis, and several council secretariats. It is scheduled to begin on September 22 and 29, 2025, and will be conducted free of charge.

    The Commissioner urged union leaders and members to give their maximum cooperation for a smooth and successful process.

    In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Salau Kabiru Abdullahi, thanked transport leaders for their continuous cooperation and contributions to government policies.

    Union leaders, including the Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Alhaji Abdulrahman Olayinka Onikijipa, and the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Abdulrazaq Ariwoola, commended the Ministry for always engaging stakeholders before introducing new policies.

    They, however, appealed to the government to prioritise the reconstruction of state-owned motor parks, which they described as dilapidated and unattractive to passengers, affecting their operations and patronage.

    The leaders nonetheless expressed appreciation to the government for its inclusiveness in decision-making, which they said has strengthened collaboration between stakeholders and the state.