Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Wednesday explained that his administration proposed the Education Trust Fund bill to encourage partnership with private individuals and corporate bodies in developing the education sector.
The Governor gave this explanation when he inaugurated a multimillion naira information communication technology (ICT) centre and a central administrative block donated to the Ansaru-ud-Deen College, Ijagbo by Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
According to him, Kwara is establishing an education trust fund to mobilise resources for school infrastructure, provide affordable and qualitative education, and boost human capital development in the state.
“Our administration recognises the limitations of government to shoulder the burden of infrastructural development in all local government areas of the state. That is why we have sent Kwara State Education Trust Fund Bill to the House of Assembly. When passed into law, it will ensure contributions into schools,” he said.
“The law will empower the state government to partner with philanthropists, foundations and corporate bodies to raise money and help support strengthening educational infrastructure in the state.”
The Governor also commended Fagbemi SAN for the well-equipped edifice, saying the gesture represents a major boost for human capital development in Kwara State.
“Let me commend Lateef Fagbemi’s effort in this community. This is a huge development. What else can you give to your community better than solid education? We are very grateful for this. You are not just the pride of the community, you’re an ambassador of the state. We appreciate your efforts,” AbdulRazaq said.
“With this, you are laying a good foundation for our children. This is a major boost to our administration’s efforts to develop basic education. We appreciate it. We have also started our school projects because since 2013 there was no major investment in basic education. We are perplexed about how the former administration neglected education. The state was blacklisted by UBEC. So, if every community goes into this kind of (self-help) project, the sky is the limit for Kwara. We are definitely scaling up to take back our position in the north.”
AbdulRazaq urged other well-heeled individuals in Kwara to emulate Lateef Fagbemi SAN and improve infrastructure in their communities for socio-economic development.
