…AbdulRazaq’s investment in education brings long-awaited campus to life
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Academic activities have officially commenced at the Kwara State University (KWASU) Ilesha-Baruba Campus, as lectures began on Monday, November 3, 2025.
The campus, which hosts the Faculty of Agriculture, welcomed students from the Departments of Animal Production, Crop Production, and Fisheries and Aquaculture. This milestone marks the formal take-off of academic operations at the Ilesha-Baruba Campus, strengthening KWASU’s multi-campus system and advancing efforts to expand access to higher education across Kwara State.
Stakeholders and residents have commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for completing the campus infrastructure and equipping it with modern teaching facilities, transforming it from an inactive project site into a fully functional academic centre.
The completion and activation of the Ilesha-Baruba Campus reflect Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s sustained commitment to providing students in Kwara State and beyond with a safe, modern, and conducive learning environment.
… Kwara sustains scholarships, expands ICT infrastructure, and strengthens partnerships across tertiary institutions
The Kwara State Government has recorded another milestone in its education sector, with all academic programmes presented by the Kwara State University (KWASU) and the Kwara State Polytechnic earning full accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), respectively.
Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, announced this during the third quarter inter-ministerial press briefing in Ilorin, where she highlighted the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq administration’s sustained investments in tertiary education between April and September 2025.
She said the state has witnessed remarkable progress in infrastructure, research, innovation, and institutional governance, supported by peaceful industrial relations and regular payment of staff salaries. These efforts, she noted, have ensured uninterrupted academic calendars across all state-owned institutions.
According to her, the Ministry secured approvals for the renovation and upgrading of 14 facilities at the College of Education, Ilorin, to serve both the College and the newly established Kwara State University of Education (KWASUED). The Governor also approved the procurement of laboratory equipment, library furniture, e-learning tools, and a fully integrated ICT system for KWASUED, including a website, bursary automation, HR management, and a learning management platform.
Hajia Modibbo Kawu added that Governor AbdulRazaq approved a 100% increase in bursary and scholarship awards for Kwara indigenes, including law students. She also announced that 200 youths completed technical training at IVTEC Ajase-Ipo under the Kwara Youth Empowerment and Employment Generation Scheme (KWYEEGS), while over 600 female students of the Kwara State Polytechnic benefitted from Smart Agriculture training under the French Government’s WATEA Project, in partnership with IITA.
KWASU, she said, has taken a lead in clean energy innovation, converting old government vehicles to electric and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) systems. The University also signed an MoU with Yasin Logistics to establish CNG conversion and repair centres under the Presidential Initiative on CNG (PiCNG), which will provide buses and motorcycles for intra-campus transportation.
Other major collaborations include Kwara Polytechnic’s partnership with the Nigerian Railway Corporation; IVTEC’s MoU with the Federal Polytechnic, Offa; and the College of Education, Ilorin’s research exchange with Rudn University, Russia.
The Commissioner further revealed that the Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa, and the College of Education (Technical), Lafiagi, have new substantive Provosts, while the College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies (CAILS) has inaugurated its Governing Council to strengthen institutional governance.
She also commended the performance of Kwara State Polytechnic students at the 2024 NIPOGA Games, where they won six gold, six silver, and two bronze medals, as well as the College of Education, Ilorin, which clinched first place at the ECHIPS National Competition organized by the Federal Ministry of Education.
Highlighting progress in aviation education, Hajia Modibbo Kawu said the Kwara State Aviation College completed commercial pilot licence (CPL) training for three students, who were decorated by the Governor, while the institution acquired new aircraft engines and logistics equipment to enhance flight operations and safety.
She concluded that the Ministry continues to prioritize staff training through workshops on entrepreneurship, ICT, and digital learning, reinforcing the state’s drive toward sustainable educational development and innovation.
The Kwara State Government has announced plans to conduct its first-ever Computer-Based Test (CBT) promotion examination for staff of the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), marking a new milestone in the state’s education sector.
Executive Chairman of TESCOM, Mallam Bello Tauheed Abubakar, disclosed that the 2025 promotion examination will take place on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at the Kwara State College of Education CBT Centre, Ilorin.
Speaking during a management meeting, Abubakar commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for approving the initiative, describing it as a forward-thinking move that places Kwara ahead of other states in the digital transformation of public service examinations.
He said TESCOM is the first government parastatal in Kwara to conduct a computer-based promotion examination, adding that the development aligns with global best practices and prepares teachers for the digital shift already adopted by national examination bodies such as WAEC and NECO.
“Since His Excellency, the Governor, is the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, it is only fitting that this kind of innovation begins from his state. This marks a new era of professionalism and accountability in our education system,” Abubakar said.
He explained that the examination will commence at 9:00 a.m., and all participants are expected to arrive at the venue at least 30 minutes early with the original copies of their credentials.
To facilitate proper documentation, TESCOM has launched a dedicated portal — tescom.kwarastate.gov.ng which will open at 12:00 a.m. on October 17, 2025. All eligible staff are required to submit their information via the portal, as those not captured will not be allowed to sit for the examination.
Abubakar added that interviews will immediately follow the CBT exercise at the same venue, during which officers will be required to present their Enhancement Certificate or Clearance for verification before being interviewed.
He urged all TESCOM staff to embrace the new digital process and prepare adequately for the examination, noting that the exercise reflects the government’s commitment to merit-based progression and capacity building in the education sector.
… Govt partners Digital Equity Africa on ‘Future Minds AI Bootcamp’
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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.
Textbooks to be distributed free as govt opens fresh UBEC/SUBEB projects
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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.
…Appointment follows landmark MoU with Thomas Adewumi University to strengthen medical training and healthcare delivery
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved the appointment of Prof. Ademola Alabi Popoola as the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the newly designated Thomas Adewumi Teaching Hospital, Omu-Aran.
The appointment comes after the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Kwara State Government and Thomas Adewumi University, Oko, which officially upgraded the General Hospital, Omu-Aran, into the University’s teaching hospital.
Announcing the development, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, said Prof. Popoola’s appointment is a strategic move to provide visionary leadership that will steer the hospital towards global standards in medical training, research, and service delivery.
She described the initiative as a bold step that will not only strengthen the medical programmes of Thomas Adewumi University but also expand access to quality healthcare services for residents of Kwara and neighbouring states.
“With this appointment, the Kwara State Government has once again demonstrated its commitment to building a healthier, stronger, and more prosperous future for its people,” Dr. El-Imam added.
Prof. Popoola, a seasoned medical professional, is expected to bring his wealth of experience to the role, positioning the teaching hospital as a centre of excellence in healthcare and medical education.
… Governor AbdulRazaq hails milestone, urges more private sector, community support for education
The Kwara State Education Trust Fund (Kwara-ETF) has awarded its first set of scholarships to 12 outstanding pupils from public schools, who will have their entire secondary school education fully sponsored under the scheme.
The development, described by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as a “dream come true” for the state, comes barely two years after the Fund was established to support public education.
Speaking at the orientation programme for the inaugural beneficiaries, Governor AbdulRazaq said education funding is too important and expensive to be left to government alone. He called on philanthropists, corporate bodies, and individuals to support the Trust Fund by sponsoring students or investing in school infrastructure.
“Education belongs to all of us. It is our business. But we have seen over the years that governments alone can’t fully fund education. We need to engage through other means,” the Governor said.
“What you have seen here today is a model where some students were selected through a very rigorous and transparent process to benefit from a scholarship. I am truly excited that these pupils are from humble backgrounds and did not cut corners to make the list. This is just the beginning. We will keep tracking them to the university level.”
He added that his administration will continue to donate to the Trust Fund to strengthen its impact.
The Executive Secretary of Kwara-ETF, Oluwadamilola Amolegbe, explained that the beneficiaries were selected from an initial shortlist of 640 top-performing pupils drawn from the KwaraLEARN digital literacy programme. From that pool, 180 pupils were supported to sit for the National Common Entrance Examination, out of which 36 excelled. The final 12 were then picked based on merit, local government spread, and admission into Unity Schools.
Programme Manager, Zainab Abdulsalam, said the ETF will continue to track and monitor the scholars’ performance to ensure that the state’s investments in education through KwaraLEARN, the Trust Fund, and the Ministry of Education deliver visible results.
“These pupils represent the face of an average Kwaran. They now have the opportunity to access life-changing exposure and opportunities,” she said.
Parents express joy One of the parents, Maxwell Kolawole from Ekiti Local Government, commended the Governor for easing the financial burden of school fees and other expenses.
“This is truly a pro-masses initiative. The process was transparent and impressive, and we are grateful to the Governor and his administration,” he said.
The Kwara Education Trust Fund was established in 2021 through legislation and is managed by trustees drawn mainly from the private sector and community stakeholders. It has since attracted contributions from philanthropists and development partners, with the inaugural scholarship awards marking a new milestone in its mission to support quality education for Kwaran children.
The Kwara State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to generating accurate, reliable, and timely data to drive effective planning and policy formulation in the education sector.
Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, gave the assurance on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting with Education Management Information System (EMIS) officials from the 16 Local Government Areas, held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Ilorin.
Declaring the meeting open, Olohungbebe stressed the central role of credible data in sustaining education reforms and growth, quoting Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as saying: “Our administration is determined to ensure every education policy is founded on credible data. Without reliable statistics, informed decisions and effective planning are impossible.”
He appealed to heads of schools to cooperate fully with EMIS officials by providing timely and accurate information while avoiding admitting students beyond their schools’ carrying capacity. The Commissioner also commended the Governor for his consistent interventions in the education sector.
In his goodwill message, Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Professor Raheem Adaramaja, underscored the importance of EMIS in strengthening the school system. He said the deliberations would enhance the effectiveness of data collection across assignments.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Olanrewaju Rebecca Bake, described stakeholders’ collaboration as key to ensuring comprehensive coverage. She encouraged participants to share best practices and adopt workable strategies for a successful 2024/2025 annual school census.
Director of Education Planning, Research, and Development, Mallam Adeshina Azeez, disclosed that the new EMIS exercise would deploy both analogue and digital tools to improve accuracy, reliability, and efficiency in data gathering.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Kwara State Bureau of Statistics, Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), SUBEB, All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON), and the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA).
The wide participation, officials noted, reflects a strong commitment to strengthening data-driven decision-making and policy development in Kwara’s education sector.
… Participation, performance hit new highs as state sustains education reforms
The Kwara State Government has announced significant progress in the 2025 placement examination, with both participation and performance showing steady growth.
Releasing the results on behalf of the government, the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, quoted Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as saying the outcome reaffirms the administration’s commitment to strengthening public education.
“The encouraging results from both the placement and BECE examinations reaffirm our administration’s commitment to strengthening public education. We are proud of the steady progress and will continue to invest in teaching, learning and infrastructure so that every Kwara child has a fair chance to succeed,” the Governor said.
Figures released by the Ministry showed that participation rose by 3.09%, from 62,031 candidates in 2024 to 63,950 in 2025, reflecting a rising demand for public education and the impact of government-led initiatives across schools and local education authorities.
Performance outcomes also improved, with the overall pass rate climbing to 83.21% in 2025, compared with 73.98% in 2024 and 66.99% in 2019 — the strongest result within the review period.
At the subject level, Mathematics recorded a 72.86% pass rate in 2025, up from 67% in 2024; English improved to 74.61% from 73%; while General Studies rose to 85.30% from 78%.
Dr. Olohungbebe noted that the results build on recent gains from the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), where Kwara students also recorded improved performance.
The Commissioner commended teachers, school leaders, parents and learners for their collective efforts, stressing that the achievements reflect the government’s sustained investments in education and the determination of stakeholders to raise standards across the state.
The Kwara State Government has announced the official opening of applications for the 2025 Bursary and Scholarship Award, targeting indigenous students currently enrolled in tertiary institutions across Nigeria as well as graduates of the Nigerian Law School.
According to a statement from the Kwara State Scholarship Board, the application process will run from September 4 to September 18, 2025, and all applicants are required to submit their forms through the official portal at scholarship.kwarastate.gov.ng.
The initiative, carried out at the directive of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and supervised by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, is part of government efforts to support students and promote access to quality education.
To qualify, applicants must be registered with the Kwara State Residents Registration Agency (KWASRRA) and will need their KWASRRA SSID alongside their National Identification Number (NIN) to complete the process.
Mandatory documents to be uploaded include a passport photograph, local government citizenship certificate, admission letter, duly stamped final-year course registration form, institutional ID card, evidence of NAKSS due payment, KWASRRA certificate, NAKSS receipt, and valid NIN slip.
The government emphasized that incomplete applications or failure to meet the deadline will lead to automatic disqualification.
The Scholarship Board urged eligible students to take full advantage of the opportunity, stressing that the initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to easing the financial burden on students and encouraging academic excellence.
