The people of Osi, a town in Kwara State are in joyous mood. They are happy because Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has fulfilled his promise to them by bringing to reality the Osi Campus of the Kwara state university. They are not also the only ones who are enjoying the pledge to never give room for abandoned project in the state. The other lucky town is Ilesha Bariba, which also got commissioned a university campus. The two communities are part of the testimonies for the drive for a new wave of development in the southern axis of the state. This is contained in a statement signed by Rafiu Ajakaye, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.
According to the statement, stakeholders in the region commended the governor's statewide achievements, even as the governor said the commissioning is a practical step to drive inclusive growth and prosperity in every part of the state.
Ajakaye quoted the governor as saying, "This is more than just a project commissioning. The completion of the Osi and Ilesha Baruba Campuses bears testament to my pledge that Kwara will not be a mortuary of abandoned project. With this, we have again sent the signal that what matters to our administration is the progress of our state, not the political history of any project."
"This is a lesson in history, and we hope it resonates across our state and among our people. In June 2021, I commissioned the Kwara Polytechnic main auditorium, which we funded to completion, more than 20 years after its foundation was laid by the late Governor Mohammed Lawal. This is who we are!
"Today marks the culmination of years of commitment, resilience, and a collective resolve to expand access to quality tertiary education in Kwara State.
"The journey has been marked by significant challenges, including substantial inflation. This project started under the previous administration. It was later abandoned.
"We promised never to abandon it. And what you see here bears testimony to the power of strategic planning, prudent resource management, determination, and good conscience."
Governor Abdurazaq expressed the optimism that the projects will attract more positive things to people of the communities. He said, "The two campuses, among other projects, will stimulate rapid economic growth and human capital development in these regions, foster a sense of belonging, and create new opportunities for our youths."
The people were particularly more excited when they learnt that the infrastructure at the campuses are of world standard. For according to the governor, "We worked tirelessly to ensure that the infrastructure you see today is up to standards, as recently confirmed by the team from the National Universities Commission.
"From the state-of-the-art studios, lecture halls, and laboratories to the serene learning environment, this campus reflects the commitment of our administration to sustainable development, academic excellence, and social inclusion. This effort aligns with our broader agenda of making Kwara State a hub for innovation, creativity, and technical expertise.
"Today, we are proud to hand over this Campus (Osi) to the community and leadership of the Kwara State University through the Ministry of Tertiary Education.
"Osi Campus will not just be a physical structure but a beacon of hope and a testament to our hard work for future generations, our love for inclusion, economic expansion, and wellbeing of our people.
"As we celebrate this achievement, I call on the management, staff, and students of KWASU to take full advantage of this facility. Let this campus become a breeding ground for world-class professionals whose work will bring honour to Kwara State and Nigeria as a whole.
"To the host community, we thank you for your cooperation and support throughout this process. Your role in safeguarding this campus and fostering a peaceful environment cannot be overstated. I appeal to you to ensure peaceful cohabitation between the community and the institution.
"Finally, our administration remains committed to expanding the frontiers of development across all sectors. The successes we celebrate today are the sweet fruits of the collective will and hard work of Kwarans."
At the event were senior government officials, academics, royalties, and party leaders and members, including the Speaker Kwara House of Assembly Rt. Hon Yakubu Salihu Danladi, who was represented by Hon. Ganiyu Gabriel Abolarin; representative of the Minister of Culture and Tourism Barrister Biola Abdulkareem; Chairman Kwara House Committee on Education Hon. Baba Boriya; Commissioner for Tertiary Education Dr Mary Arinde; State APC Chairman Prince Sunday Fagbemi; Chairman Ekiti Local Government Hon. Awelewa Olawale Gabriel; KWASU Chancellor Dr. Johnson Bamidele Adewumi; Pro-Chancellor (KWASU) Prof Abdulganiyu
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