…Facility to support SASCP and Society for Family Health operations in fight against HIV epidemic
The Kwara State Government has unveiled a newly renovated six-room office space dedicated to enhancing the activities of the State AIDS and STIs Control Programme (SASCP) and the Society for Family Health (SFH).
The facility, commissioned by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, is seen as a key step in the state’s ongoing efforts to achieve HIV epidemic control. She said the renovation was made possible through the Global Fund GC7 N-THRIP Grant, implemented by SFH as a sub-recipient to the HIV National Programme in partnership with the state Ministry of Health.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Dr. El-Imam said the project will strengthen the coordination of HIV interventions in the state and provide a better working environment for health workers. She commended the collaboration between the Ministry, SFH, and development partners, noting that the new office will help improve efficiency and coordination in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
“The newly renovated space will provide a more enabling environment for our teams. This is about sustainability and ensuring our health systems have the support they need to function effectively,” she said.
The Commissioner reiterated the state government’s commitment to providing infrastructure that supports health programmes and interventions across Kwara.
In his remarks, the Team Lead for the Society for Family Health in Kwara, Dr. Owen Omede, thanked the Commissioner for her consistent support and highlighted the importance of the new office. He said it will serve as a base for teams working on HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support services.
“This would not have been possible without your immense commitment to achieving HIV epidemic control. We are also grateful to the Director of Public Health and the SASCP team for their dedication,” Dr. Omede said.
He added that the office would enhance the effectiveness of HIV response efforts and ensure Kwara stays on course in its fight to control and eventually end the HIV epidemic.
..Kwara Commissioner speaks at close of five-day training on documentary production for media and public officers
#KwaraRising
Kwara State Commissioner for Communications, Hon. Bola Olukoju, has called on public officials and media professionals to prioritise the documentation of government activities to promote transparency, credibility, and proper record-keeping for future reference.
Olukoju made the call in Ilorin on Thursday at the closing ceremony of a five-day training on documentary production, organised by the Kwara Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (Kwara L-PRES) in partnership with FOUR ICONS Premium Limited.
Kwara L-PRES is a World Bank-assisted project under the State Ministry of Livestock Development aimed at improving livestock production and resilience across the state.
Participants at the training included media professionals from different organisations and public offices, including the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Olayinka Fafoluyi Solace; Senior Special Assistant on Communication, Ibrahim Abdullateef; and Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mashood Abdulrafiu Agboola.
Speaking to reporters, Olukoju said the training was timely and relevant, particularly in helping participants sharpen their storytelling skills and improve how they document and communicate government programmes.
“Training in documentary production is the way to go because the power of documentation cannot be rivaled. The art of storytelling is how we get our story out. We don’t want governance to be something people think is just cooked up — we want it to have a human angle,” she said.
She highlighted key lessons from the training, including the use of pictures and progress reports to tell compelling stories, and how artificial intelligence can help amplify creativity. “AI won’t take away your job. It enhances what you already know. As a creative tool, it’s something you must learn to work with,” she added.
Olukoju, who also took part in the training, thanked Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for supporting the initiative and for his vision on digital inclusion in governance.
Also speaking at the event, Kwara State L-PRES Coordinator Olusoji Oyawoye said the project has trained over 2,000 stakeholders so far, including livestock farmers, butchers, abattoir workers, and agricultural extension agents.
Topics covered in past trainings, he said, include ruminant and crop residue usage, bull fattening, fodder production, meat handling protocols, occupational health and safety, and climate-smart agriculture.
Oyawoye commended Governor AbdulRazaq for providing the support needed to achieve success in implementing the L-PRES project. He also encouraged media professionals to continue reporting on the project’s work to keep the public informed and engaged.
Aishat Onusi, a resource person from FOUR ICONS Premium Limited, said proper documentation is critical to the success of any development project.
“In development work, documentation is not just about keeping records. It is a proof of work done, evidence of impact, and the basis for learning and accountability,” she said. “Without it, efforts risk being forgotten or duplicated.”
…Governor Briefs Lafiagi Leaders on Security Measures
#KwaraRising
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has outlined comprehensive security operations targeting criminal hideouts in Edu and Ifelodun local government areas. During a meeting with Lafiagi community leaders in Ilorin, the Governor revealed joint military and forest guard deployments to rout violent gangs from forested areas.
The security strategy, developed with the Office of the National Security Adviser, will see newly trained forest guards support sustained army operations in Kwara North and South. “These operations aim to permanently dislodge criminals while preventing their relocation to other areas,” stated a government release.
Governor AbdulRazaq acknowledged residents’ concerns during discussions with the Lafiagi Descendants’ Development Union, led by Dr. Abdullahi Jibril Mohammed. He emphasized that security operations require meticulous planning for lasting success.
The measures follow increased criminal activities in border communities, with authorities identifying specific settlements in Ifelodun, Edu, and Patigi as operational targets. The government assures residents of ongoing coordination with security agencies to restore peace.
…Education Reforms Bear Fruit as Students Outshine Rivals
#KwaraRising
Kwara State has claimed its maiden national title at the 2025 President’s Senior School Debate Competition, defeating contenders from across Nigeria in the 26th edition held in Abeokuta. The four-member team triumphed over Rivers State in the finals, marking a watershed moment for education in Kwara.
Education Commissioner Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe welcomed the champions on Friday, crediting Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s education transformation agenda for the breakthrough. “This victory validates our investments in teacher welfare and curriculum enhancement,” he stated, praising the team’s coaches and supporting educators.
The winning squad featured Moshood Kamaldeen (Government Secondary School, Ilorin), Aishat AbdulAzeez (Nawarudeen Secondary School, Offa), Mutasir AbdulAzeez (St. Anthony Secondary School), and Maryam Usman (Ilorin Grammar School), guided by teacher-coach Babatunde Amina Idowu.
“This collective achievement belongs to every stakeholder advancing education in Kwara,” Olohungbebe remarked, urging the students to build on their success. The win comes three years after Kwara’s education sector overhaul began, demonstrating measurable academic excellence at national levels.
In a strategic move to deepen cross border capital market integration, the NGX Chairman and founder & CEO of Petralon Energy, Ahonsi Unuigbe, recently concluded a working visit to the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) last week.
During high-level discussions, Ahonsi joined Hamed Ahmed Ali, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Financial Market (DFM), and Joel Tilly, AVP of Business Development for Africa, to explore opportunities for strengthening the existing MOU between NGX and NASDAQ Dubai, with a special focus on supporting Nigerian corporates that are evaluating dual-listing structures.
Since 2000, Dubai has undergone a remarkable transformation in the capital market, achieving over $1 trillion in combined market capitalisation by adopting a holistic approach that extends well beyond traditional exchange functions.
Through disciplined, commercial execution, the focus has shifted from merely facilitating IPOs to actively driving post-listing company performance and creating sustainable value across the entire corporate lifecycle. This has resulted in a sophisticated investment ecosystem where capital supply far exceeds quality deal flow.
Speaking on the opportunities ahead, Ahonsi noted; “The UAE presents a compelling case for African corporates, especially in the energy sector, with its advanced regulatory frameworks, deep capital markets, and strong sector expertise. At NGX, we are committed to leveraging these cross-border synergies to drive real value for both markets.”
DFM’s strategic vision of building institutional capacity across regions aligns with NGX’s ambition to position Nigerian companies on the global stage. By providing increased access to capital, the collaboration aims to support indigenous companies in scaling operations, improving governance, and enhancing investor confidence.
Ahonsi also added, “By bridging the information and access gap between Nigerian enterprises and international markets, we are laying the foundation for a stronger economic growth, investor participation, and long-term value creation”.
While there was enthusiasm about the potential opportunities for value creation, the parties also acknowledged the need for significant improvement in UAE-Nigeria bilateral relations. Strengthening these relations is seen as a critical enabler to fully realize the opportunities by reducing barriers that currently hinder seamless collaboration and integration between the two countries.
This engagement underscores NGX’s commitment to forging meaningful global partnerships that elevate the visibility and competitiveness of African markets in the global financial landscape.
…Seeks Doctors to Boost Healthcare Across State Hospitals
#KwaraRising
The Kwara State Hospitals Management Board has announced vacancies for qualified medical officers as part of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s healthcare expansion initiative. The recruitment aims to strengthen medical services in general and cottage hospitals statewide.
Eligible candidates must possess an MBBS/MBChB degree from accredited institutions, valid Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) registration, and NYSC completion certificate. Applicants should demonstrate clinical competence and readiness for deployment across Kwara’s healthcare facilities.
Interested doctors are required to submit their CVs, credentials, MDCN license, and NYSC documents either physically at the KW-HMB office on Fate Road, Ilorin or via WhatsApp to +2348057833718 before August 1, 2025.
“The recruitment reflects our commitment to improving healthcare accessibility for all residents,” stated the Board’s Executive Secretary. Successful candidates will join Kwara’s growing network of public health professionals delivering essential services.
…Team receives grand welcome in Ilorin after winning 2025 President Federation Cup and National Youth League
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday hosted Kwara United Football Club following their historic win of the 2025 President Federation Cup — the first time the state has claimed the title. The Governor also celebrated the club’s U-19 team, who won the inaugural National Youth League.
To mark the achievements, each senior team player was awarded five million naira and a plot of land at the Kwara Smart City. The Governor described the victory as a proud moment for the state and praised the players and management for their discipline and hard work.
Kwara United secured the President Federation Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout win over Abakaliki FC, following a goalless 90-minute final. The win is the club’s first in the competition, which predates the national football league and is widely regarded as Nigeria’s most prestigious domestic trophy.
The team’s return to Ilorin on Monday was met with widespread celebration. Residents lined the streets to welcome the players, who arrived in a long motorcade from Eiyenkorin to the Banquet Hall in Government Reserved Area, where the reception was held.
Speaking at the reception, Governor AbdulRazaq hailed the significance of the win, describing the Federation Cup as the biggest trophy in Nigerian football. “It is bigger than the League Cup. This has been in existence even before the League was formed. The trophy is in Kwara today. I must congratulate everybody who has made it happen,” he said.
He recalled the state of the club in 2019 when his administration took over. “Everything was down. We were owing players a lot of money, but today the story has changed,” the Governor said.
He dedicated the victory to the late Alhaji Yusuf Salami, who he said had invested his personal resources to bring success to the club but never lived to witness it. “May Allah grant him Alijanna Fridaous,” he added.
The event was attended by key dignitaries including Chairman of the House of Assembly Committee on Sports Hon. Rukayat Shittu, Hon. Yusuf Abdulwaheed Gbenga of Shawo/Essa Constituency, Deputy Chief of Staff Princess Olubukola Babalola, Chairman of the State Sports Commission Coach Bola Magaji, Kwara United Chairman Kumbi Titiloye, State FA Chairman Malam Abdullahi Musa Thuraya, Head Coach Tunde Sanni, and APC chieftain Alhaji Yahya Seriki, among others.
In their remarks, Coach Magaji and Kumbi Titiloye thanked Governor AbdulRazaq for his strong support, noting that the administration’s commitment to the club laid the foundation for this historic success.
… Team Secures Continental Ticket After 49-Year Wait
#KwaraRising
Kwara State erupted in celebration as Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq announced a N5 million cash reward and plot of land for each Kwara United FC player following their dramatic President Federation Cup victory. The unprecedented package came as the team returned to Ilorin on Monday with Nigeria’s oldest football trophy, ending the state’s 49-year wait for glory since Alyufsalam Rocks’ 1976 final appearance.
Thousands lined the streets to welcome the champions during a victory parade culminating at the Banquet Hall GRA, where the Governor honored the squad that edged Abakaliki FC 4-3 on penalties after a tense goalless final in Lagos. Goalkeeper Suraju Aiyeleso’s heroic saves and stellar performances from Afeez Nosiru, Wasiu Alalade, Isa Gatta, and Wasiu Jimoh throughout the tournament proved decisive.
“This reward reflects the magnitude of your achievement in putting Kwara on Nigeria’s football map,” Governor AbdulRahman stated during the reception. The victory secures Kwara United’s debut in the 2025/26 CAF Confederation Cup, marking their first continental campaign.
Coach Tunde Sanni described the win as “a dream realized,” while players dedicated the triumph to loyal fans who supported them through years of near-misses. The celebrations signal renewed hope for Kwara football, with the “Afonja Warriors” now shifting focus to preparing for African competition.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is a man of many firsts. Before public office, he established First Fuels Limited and NOPA Oil Services, becoming the first indigenous company to import crude oil and petroleum products into Nigeria. That groundbreaking feat was achieved at a relatively younger age.
After making a success of the private sector, AbdulRazaq ran consistently and progressively for public office, with the story ending up in another first. He emerged the first gubernatorial candidate to defeat the then-reigning dynasty in 2019, ushering in a new era in Kwara State.
Since being at the helm of affairs, Governor AbdulRazaq has gone on to achieve many firsts on the governance front. He has created the enabling environment for glittering records to be broken by the state, repositioning Kwara as a shining model of a first-generation state.
The victory of Kwara United Football Club at the recently concluded 2025 Federation Cup is the latest addition to the long list of firsts recorded under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. The win has been widely celebrated by sons and daughters of the state because it is both historic and symbolic. Since the creation of Kwara State in 1967, no football club from the state has won the federation cup. The team officially will be representing Nigeria in the 2025/2026 CAF Confederation Cup.
As evident by his morale-boosting attendance in the stand yesterday, it is instructive to note that the recent win was not by happenstance, it is a reward for deliberate investments, intentional strategies, and quality attention paid to the sports sector by the sports-loving Governor AbdulRazaq. His attitude and approach to other sectors is similar, and there have also been fruitful results to show for it.
Just a day to the Kwara United historic win, Kwara students who represented the state at the 26th edition of the presidential debate (senior category) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, bested their peers nationwide to emerge winner of the coveted contest. Like the Federation Cup, that was also the first time Kwara students would be leading the senior category of the presidential debate. However, their juniors in the basic category have brought the trophy home three times in a row. They won the three in succession for the first time under Governor AbdulRazaq.
With his transformative policies and programmes in the education sector, especially the tech-based KwaraLEARN, Governor AbdulRazaq is actively supporting younger ones in Kwara State with facilities that give them a head start in school and life.
AbdulRazaq also cracked the glass ceiling. He appointed a 56.25% female majority cabinet, a first not only in Nigeria but also in West Africa. Under this category, he appointed the first female commissioner for finance in the history of the state. He also appointed the first female Chairman for the State Internal Revenue Service. And many others. Women now feel so empowered in the state, and are encouraged to aspire to anything they wish in life.
It is also on record that AbdulRazaq is the first Governor to implement the minimum wage twice in office. Before his coming, the implementation of minimum wage across cadres for civil servants is believed by many to be usually delayed and chaotic. In contrast, Kwara was one of the top 10 states to implement the last minimum wage in Nigeria.
AbdulRazaq is also the first Kwara Governor to construct two flyovers, the state-of-the-art infrastructure that have made bold additions to the artery and aesthetics of the state capital.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq also created KWASSIP, an innovative strategy to reduce poverty, empower the citizens financially, and promote social security. KWASSIP is Kwara’s first ever institutionalised social protection scheme—and it was equally dubbed the largest to be owned by a subnational government—with young, old, indigent, enterprising Kwarans benefitting hugely from it since establishment.
AbdulRazaq is the first governor to take budget preparation session outside of the traditional bureaucratic offices. In 2021, Kwara State Government began to host townhall meetings across the three senatorial districts with diverse stakeholders to gather imput and feedback from the citizens to make the budget process more inclusive and ensure it addresses the needs of the communities.
Access to information and awareness are key ingredients to fostering unity and strengthening democracy. The first radio, private or public, in Kwara North was also created by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. This helps to bridge the information gap between the government and the people in the hinterlands.
According to the Global Startup Ecosystem Index Report 2025 by @StartupBlink, Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, debuted in the world’s most comprehensive start-up ecosystem map for the first time ever this year. Right under AbdulRazaq, Kwara waltzed into 6th in Nigeria, and featured 885th in the global top 1000 ranking. Some development observers and temperate analysts have likened the transformation to one of the wonders of democracy for a state widely renowned as a conservative, traditional civil servant economy barely six years ago.
The haul of laurels for Kwara under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq can only swell as he goes on to complete his term. But six years in, he is being the leader of many firsts in building sustainable growth and development.
•Abdullateef is the Senior Special Assistant on Communication to Kwara Governor
…Kwara United wins 2025 President Federation Cup, students top President’s School Debate in Abuja
#KwaraRising
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has celebrated what he described as a proud and historic weekend for the state, following two major national victories in football and education.
Kwara United Football Club emerged champions of the 2025 President Federation Cup after defeating Abakaliki FC on penalties at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium in Lagos, the first time any team from Kwara has won the title since the state’s creation in 1967. On the same day, a team of secondary school students from Kwara won the Senior Category of the President School Debate Competition held in Abuja.
Screenshot
In a statement issued on Saturday evening, Governor AbdulRazaq said both victories reflect the result of sustained investment and focus on youth development, sports, and education in the state.
Screenshot
“I’m overwhelmed with joy as I joined the Harmony Boys of Kwara United this evening to bring home the 2025 President Federation Cup, the first time any team from our state has ever won the prestigious trophy since Kwara was created in 1967,” the Governor said.
Screenshot
He praised the players, coaching crew, management of Kwara United, the State Sports Commission, and the supporters’ club, describing their performance as “a remarkable feat” powered by teamwork, discipline, and determination.
Governor AbdulRazaq also commended the state’s debate team, noting their consistent performance in the national competition. “For three unbroken editions, our pupils under the State Universal Basic Education have remained the national champions in the President School Debate Competition. I commend the Kwara contingents that have made us proud.”
He said the double victories were not accidental, but “deserving fruits of hard work and strategic investments” in key areas that directly impact young people and the future of the state.
“These achievements are proof that Kwara is on a steady rise. They show that our successes are not one-offs, but part of a larger, deliberate effort to place the state on the national and global stage for the right reasons,” he said.
The Governor congratulated all Kwarans at home and abroad, and reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining the momentum in delivering positive results across various sectors.
