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Gov AbdulRazaq receives report on establishment of Kwara University of Education
– Gov’s zeal for Kwara education truly commendable: Prof Oba AbdulRaheem
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has received a three-pronged report from the Prof. Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem-led Planning and Implementation Committee for the Establishment of Kwara State University of Education. The report included an academic brief; a draft (establishment) bill; and the proposed masterplan for the university.Receiving the documents at the Government House Ilorin, AbdulRazaq said the government will take prompt action on the report for quick takeoff of the university, including forwarding the bill to the House within reasonable time. “We will look at the academic brief and the masterplan for the proposed university of education as well,” he said.The Governor said the government will weigh all the factors stated in the report for the location of the varsity for efficiency and overall success of the project for the maximum benefits of all. “I must say that no part of Kwara State is undeserving of the location of the university,” he added.”I was in the TETFUND office in Abuja last month, and they assured me of support for the smooth take-off of the university of education. So, we will move quickly to ensure that this is done.”AbdulRazaq said the administration has not increased tuition fees across its tertiary institutions since it came in 2019 despite the rate of inflation in the country. He added: “On the issues of fees and so on, we shall cross the bridge when we get there because the issues of fees are challenging. If you look at what private and some public universities are charging against what we charge for tuition, you will see that there is a huge gap there. Since this administration came into being, we have not increased tuition fees. If you look at the rate of inflation, you will realise that we are actually discounting fees while that of private institutions is rising. It is part of our responsibility to make sure that we keep the space open for qualified students to seek fairly competitive paths to a great future.”Once again, let me thank you for the yeoman job you have done by bringing your experience in the academia to bear.”Other members of the committee are Deacon Pastor Afolayan J. Babatunde (Secretary); Professor (Mrs) Medinat Salman; Professor Sidikat Adeyemi; Professor Umar Gunu; Engineer Sa’ad Belgore; Mrs. Mulikat Lawal; Femi Aina; former Special Adviser on Special Duties Alhaji Abubakar Abdul-Razaq Jiddah; and a representative each of the Ministries of Housing and Urban Development and Justice. Prof Abdulraheem, for his part, acknowledged the commitment and understanding that Governor AbdulRazaq attaches to Kwara education as displayed in the course of carrying out the committee’s assignment. “I am pleased to report that the journey has been tough but very exciting indeed and productive. Your Excellency, the establishment of the University of Education is a favourite pet project in your mind for quite some time, and I know your commitment and the worth you attached to education in Kwara State,” he said.”It is with that zeal and understanding that I and my colleagues worked to produce this status report before you today.”Your Excellency, the task you assigned to us has very many exciting angles to it — human and material. I must thank you very much and appreciate your very prompt attention to the issue of logistics for the committee, without which we couldn’t have moved as fast as we did.”The former Vice Chancellor of University of Ilorin said the three documents presented would hasten the establishment of the university of education. “We had the tasks of producing three key documents — academic brief, which is going to be the intellectual instrument on which the functioning of the proposed university will be defined. There is also a draft bill for the establishment of the Kwara State University of Education, and the third is the Masterplan.”I am pleased to report to Your Excellency that the academic brief is second to none, and it is very ready. The draft bill is also ready and to be processed to the House of Assembly. The third is the Masterplan. That, we have not been able to conclude, but we have been able to scratch the ground. This is because when you are on the field, you can do nothing but scratch the ground. That will only be made possible when a decision has been taken about the location of the university.”We have taken our time to visit potential candidates in terms of location for the university project. We visited the facilities and staff of the Colleges of Education Ilorin, Lafiagi, and Oro. We have also taken time to consult stakeholders, apart from advertising in national newspapers and social media. We also invited input from members of the public to harness and harvest their opinions about the prospects of the university. “The preponderance of the result which we got are more political than academic. Everybody wants the university to be located within their own environment. That doesn’t excite me because that is a burden on the government, not mine. “I was expecting to be assisted on the academic and intellectual content on what the university is going to be. But I was assisted by a very hardworking team, and we have produced an academic brief.”The top academic said he was optimistic that the university would be established and run seamlessly with the documents presented and abundance of human resources across the state. “The three documents to be presented to the NUC are here, and I must say you have been wonderful in your support. I had the opportunity in the past to lead the establishment of the Kwara State University, Malete, and that took me two years. This one is likely to take us less than one year,” he said.”Your Excellency, once we present to you our final report, you can apply for recognition from the NUC because once the law is passed, you already established the Kwara State University of Education; you are not seeking a permission to do it. You are only asking NUC for recognition, which is different from what is done to private universities.”The only other decision to be taken is to determine the location of the university. There are many factors to determine the location of the university, and those factors are better considered by Your Excellency. You will consider factors of the economy as it is today whether it is economical to open a university in a virgin land with all the costs. If Kwara State has the resources, that will be wonderful. It also depends on the issue of security in the country. You can also consider the cost of municipal services such as light, water, road infrastructure, etc. These are things that would contribute to the easy start-up of the university for the foundational students. They must not be exposed to any hardship. “We must as a government assist by deciding the location of the university where life will be really conducive for excellent intellectual growth.
In a significant boost to youth empowerment and alternative energy transportation, the Federal Government has officially commissioned a new Automotive Training Centre in Gusau, Zamfara State. The facility has already commenced operations with an inaugural cohort of 100 youths trained in mechatronics a specialized field combining mechanical and electronic engineering specifically focused on the repair of both petrol and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered tricycles and motorcycles.The project was executed through a strategic partnership between the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and the Zamfara State office of the Made in Nigeria Special Project. The initiative is designed to address two critical national challenges: rising youth unemployment and the need for a skilled workforce capable of maintaining the growing fleet of CNG-powered vehicles, which are being promoted as a cheaper and cleaner alternative to petrol-only engines.Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Zamfara State Governor, Dr Dauda Lawal, hailed the centre as a transformative step forward. “This is not just about building a workshop; it is about building futures,” Governor Lawal stated. He emphasized that the centre aligns seamlessly with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes job creation and economic diversification, while also reflecting his administration’s commitment to developing skilled manpower across the state. He noted that the focus on CNG technology is particularly timely, given the federal government’s push to lower transportation costs following the removal of fuel subsidies.Reinforcing the federal perspective, the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, reaffirmed the government’s broader vision for the automotive sector. He highlighted that the Gusau centre is part of a nationwide strategy to expand Nigeria’s automotive industry through increased local production, the establishment of industrial hubs, and strategic partnerships with global investors. “We are moving from a culture of importing fully built vehicles to one where Nigerians design, assemble, and maintain our own transportation solutions,” Senator Enoh remarked. He added that mechatronics training is critical for the next generation of automotive engineers, who will be essential as the country transitions toward more sustainable fuel sources.Local community leaders and representatives of the trained youths expressed optimism about the initiative. For many of the graduates, the certification offers a viable pathway out of economic hardship, enabling them to set up their own repair workshops or gain employment in the formal automotive sector. The NADDC has indicated that similar training centres are being planned for other states, with the aim of creating a national network of CNG-compatible repair and maintenance hubs.
NEWS
Governor Dauda Lawal names executive secretaries for two agencies, appoints ZACADEP coordinator
Zamfara State Governor, Dr Dauda Lawal has approved the appointment of three qualified citizens to head two key state government agencies and a major development project. Disclosing the approval, the Secretary to the Zamfara State Government, Malam Abubakar Mohammad Nakwada, said the appointments are aimed at strengthening the government’s ongoing reforms and service delivery initiatives in the areas of public health, agriculture, livestock development and community-based interventions. Dr. Muhammad Habibu Yelwa is appointed as the new Executive Secretary of the Zamfara State Substance Abuse and Control Agency, while Dr. Usman Ismaila Gusau is named as the Executive Secretary of the Zamfara State Livestock Agency. Similarly, Governor Lawal has reappointed Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed Nakwada as the State Project Coordinator of the Zamfara State Agricultural and Community Development Project (ZACADEP). These appointments take immediate effect.Dr. Muhammad Habibu Yelwa is a seasoned medical practitioner and administrator with extensive experience across the health, social welfare and agricultural sectors. He has served as Permanent Secretary in several ministries and contributed to major policy and institutional reforms in the state. Dr. Usman Ismaila Gusau is a veterinary medicine specialist and public health expert with over twenty-five years of professional experience in veterinary services, epidemiology, livestock health management, and public sector administration. Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed Nakwada is an experienced agricultural development expert with decades of engagement in agricultural extension, project management, IFAD-supported programmes, and community development initiatives. He currently serves as State Project Coordinator for ISDB ZACADEP. Governor Lawal urged the appointees to deploy their knowledge, administrative experience, and sector-specific expertise to drive impactful development in their respective assignments, in line with his administration’s Rescue Agenda.
NEWS
EID EL-ADHA 2026: Governor Dauda Lawal Urges Increased Prayers for Peace, Hails Return of Displaced Communities
As Muslims across the world celebrate Eid al-Adha 2026 yesterday, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has called on the faithful to intensify prayers for lasting peace in the state and Nigeria at large. The governor made the appeal in a statewide broadcast on Wednesday, ahead of the Eid prayers.
Eid al-Adha, known as the “Festival of Sacrifice,” is observed annually by Muslims on the 10th day of Dhulhijjah, the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The festival commemorates the unwavering obedience and devotion of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.), who was willing to sacrifice his son Isma’il in submission to Allah’s (SWT) command an act replaced by divine intervention with a ram.
In his address, Governor Lawal reflected on the spiritual significance of the season, noting that the sacrificial rite not only honours Prophet Ibrahim’s submission but also forms an essential part of the Hajj rituals for pilgrims currently in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
“I felicitate with the Muslims on the occasion of Eid al-Adha 2026,” the governor said. “The sacrifice performed during Eid is symbolic of Prophet Ibrahim’s submission and is also part of the Hajj rites for pilgrims.”
The governor specifically called on residents of Zamfara, particularly those undertaking the pilgrimage, to remain steadfast in prayers for the state and the nation.
“We have made significant progress in the fight against banditry, which is why dispersed communities are now returning to their homes,” Lawal stated. He cited a recent milestone: “Last week, we successfully returned thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their ancestral community of Fegin Kanawa Village in Gusau Local Government Area after over a year of displacement.”
According to officials, the village had been abandoned due to repeated bandit attacks, forcing residents to seek refuge in overcrowded camps or host communities. The successful return of the IDPs marks one of the administration’s key achievements in its ongoing security and reconstruction efforts.
Governor Lawal expressed gratitude to Allah for enabling the state to witness what he described as a “historic” achievement the airlift of pilgrims from Gusau International Airport, which has now resumed full operations after previous disruptions.
“We are committed to ensuring the safe return of all displaced persons to their homes. Such successes are only possible due to our collective prayers. I urge us to pray more, especially during sacred religious festivals,” he added.
The governor concluded his message with warm wishes: “I wish everyone a peaceful Eid celebration.”
Following the broadcast, Governor Lawal joined thousands of worshippers at the Gusau Central Eid prayer ground, where he observed the two-unit Eid prayer and listened to the customary sermon (khutbah). Security was notably heightened across the state, with checkpoints and patrols deployed to prevent any attacks during the celebrations.
Zamfara, like much of Nigeria’s North-West region, has faced years of insecurity fueled by banditry, kidnapping, and communal clashes. The governor’s emphasis on prayer reflects a broader strategy that combines military offensives, community dialogue, and spiritual advocacy to restore normalcy.
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