Months after the current administration in Kwara State began consultations and plans, aimed at making the state a preferred destination for investors, a new logo, which displayed all the elements associated with the people of the state, has been unveiled, Raheem Akingbolu reports

Buildup

Before May 29, when the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Abdulfatai, launched a new logo to people of Kwara State to commemorate the Democracy Day Celebration at the Metropolitan Square, Ilorin, handlers of the project had created some anxiety around the concept.
Few days before the day of the launch, teasers had appeared in some national dailies, which tried to give the world the glimpse of what to expect in days to come. The full page advert though didn't come with the new logo, it played around the colours and cultures associated with people of Kwara state.

The teasers in the national dailies turned out to be a tip of the iceberg, compared to what people of Ilorin, capital of Kwara State woke up to see on the day of the launch.

As early as 6.30am on this Tuesday morning, residents woke up to see young beautiful ladies and handsome boys, in white apparel, which symbolises purity and cleanness, strategically placed in important locations across the city.
Each of them displayed a big placard with various inscriptions. At the first glance, one might think they were statues but on a closer look, they appeared to be human beings. Two of the inscriptions are; "It is time to make known the work of our hands” and "progress has a voice”.

At Geri Alimi area, this reporter and some other journalists tried to talk with the residents who clustered round one of the unusual visitor in their domain, on the new development.

A youth leader, Mr. Adio Garuba, who volunteered to talk, admitted that the activation has been on for a week and that they all had the feeling that something new was around the corner.

"Aside what we are witnessing this morning or what we may still witness later in the afternoon at the venue of the democracy day anniversary ceremony, a lot have been going on in the last one week, especially on Kwara Radio and TV, which pointed to the fact that something new is in the offing,” he added.
 
Logo Unveiling

The official unveiling of the new logo, which took place at the expansive Metropolitan Square, was witnessed by all stakeholders, including traditional rulers, top government functionaries, market women and students.
The choice of the venue, according to a source within the government circle, was to make the event a general one that would involve everybody.

Speaking on why he embarked on the exercise, Ahmed said it was in line with the covenant he made with his people one year ago, when he assumed office. He said among other things, he promised that his administration would initiate programmes that would economically empower the people and reposition the state for foreign investment.

According to him, the new logo, which he described as a global identity for indigenes of the state, defines who Kwarans are; their plurality, diversity and shared values.

He said, "This campaign and the new logo that comes with it are designed to promote our state as a top investment destination using our reputation for peace, our strengths in agriculture, commerce, solid mineral development, tourism and strategic infrastructure.

"We intend to strongly market our state as a haven for lucrative domestic and foreign direct investment. Let me state here this is not a mere political gimmick. Rather, we are setting the foundations for the long-term prosperity of our great state and its people,” the governor said.

He added, "As you are all aware, the previous administration placed the state on a global stage through innovative programmes and policies. Today, we make history by mid-wifing a new Kwara, one which gives us all a greater sense of pride, ownership and participation.
"Today, we celebrate the things that make us unique as a people and strengthen our identity as a people. On this day, we commemorate the peace in our communities, our harmony in the midst of diversity, our growing strengths in agriculture and our age-long reputation for entrepreneurship,” he added.

Earlier, his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Dr. Muideen Akorede, had disclosed that the logo cleverly pointed out the cultural attributes and resources of the state.

According to him; "The logo practically explained where we belong and what we have. The green element and livestock stand for our commitment to agriculture, while there are other elements that explained our links with the north and the south.

"As a state, Kwara is strategically located as a link between the north and the south. As such, we stand a better place for economic transformation of the country,” he added.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy to the governor, Alhaji Abdulraheem Adedoyin, said that the governor should be commended for the rebranding initiative.

According to him, the executive governor did not only conceive the idea immediately he assumed office last year, but drove and participated actively in the rigorous process that produced the new logo.

He assured stakeholders of the government's determination to live up to the expectation of the new campaign. "We are creating shared prosperity for all stakeholders by leveraging on our resourcefulness in the area of impactive economic growth, human capital development and youth empowerment and strategic infrastructure,” he said.

Scorecard

Giving the account of his stewardship, Gov. Ahmed said he has spent the last year to touch all the major sectors and impact on the people of Kwara State. He explained that he was particularly keen about the youth, in his move to generate growth for a secure future.

"On assumption of office, I emphasised my determination to protect the future of our youths and enhance workers' well-being and provide critical infrastructure. As we mark my administration's first anniversary, I make bold to state that we have made appreciable progress in our efforts to positively transform lives of our people,” he added.

The governor said under the Shared Prosperity, healthcare delivery has been strengthened by supplying 13 General hospitals and 32 Cottage Hospitals, with modern equipment.

Also, 15 primary health centres have been overhauled and a complete overhaul of the Ilorin, Offa, Omu-Aran, Share and Kaiama General Hospitals, has been carried out.

The shared prosperity campaign, the governor added, included the provision of employments for about 2,000 youths, free education up to the senior secondary school level, improvement on infrastructures across the state, and strengthening of the small scale businesses in the state among others.

How it All Began

To prove to the world that Kwara was surrounded with untapped resources, the administration of former Governor Bukola Saraki, attracted foreign investment into the state's agricultural sector during his reign, through which he entrenched the name of the state in the global register as a state that has potentials to feed the nation.

However, on assumption of office last year, the current governor was said to have told his close aides that he would use his tenure in office to guard jealously the known treasures of the state, and at the same time promote other economic potentials that were not known to the public.

To prove this, as soon as he settled for business of governance, the governor swiftly borrowed a leaf from the latest global trend, which is tailored towards re-branding and rolled out the state's re-branding process.

In the last few years, governments of Lagos, Rivers, Ekiti and Osun States have made positioning statements through efforts to rebrand their various states. Also at the centre, Federal Government had tried twice to change the perception about Nigeria.

While other states tend to play on colours and logos to influence public opinions and what their people stood for, Kwara went further in trying to use the concept as a driving force for economic transformation; hence, the launching of a national campaign that was conceptualised to attract more direct investment into the state as a trade and business-friendly environment