By Stephen Oladele
National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commended administration of Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s commitment to youth development and inclusive growth in Kwara State.
The association made the commendation just as the governor has increased annual bursary to students in the state from N20, 000 to N30, 000
Former NANS’ Co-ordinator for North Central, Zone C, Comrade Abah Owoicho, gave the commendation in Ilorin at the weekend after inspecting some legacy projects by the administration, including the Ilorin Innovation Hub and the Institute of Contemporary African Arts and Films (ICAAF).
The inspection tour was part of the association’s activities for the inauguration of its new leadership at the state level.
Owoicho said the facilities aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to equip young Nigerians with relevant digital and creative skills for self-reliance.
He said the Hub is vital to provide opportunities for youth to acquire digital skills particularly in artificial intelligence and content creation, adding this initiative would create more jobs.
Owoicho also described the music and creative arts facility (ICAAF) as a platform for nurturing talents and promoting good governance and democratic values through music.
He enjoined all artists and musicians in the state to use their talents to further spread the achievements of the administration.
The newly sworn-in Coordinator of NANS for North Central, Comrade Abiola Azeez Babatunde, in his remarks, lauded Governor Abdulrazaq’s priority for innovation and students’ welfare through the establishment of the Ilorin Innovation Hub.
Babatunde advicated a stronger collaboration with the Hub to enhance technological development in the state and position the Nigerian youths to compete favourably in the global digital economy.
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Students Affairs, Comrade Abdulwasiu Onidugbe, who conducted the team round the facilities, said the administration gave focus to welfare of students in the state.
While disclosing that the governor had approved an increase of the annual student bursary from N20,000 to N30,000, Onidugbe hinted that an application link would be made available to the public this week to enable eligible students to have access to the support.
He said the government was committed to regular payment of bursaries, entrepreneurship support, capacity building programmes, and other youth-focused initiatives.
