Date: 2017-05-23

Kwara State Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed has said the government needs N215 billion to develop the state's infrastructure.

He added that all inclusiveness in governance would take the state to greater heights of development.

Ahmed spoke in Ilorin at a lecture to mark the state's 50th creation anniversary.

His words: "This money cannot be gotten overnight; it can be modulated. We are picking out those aspects that are doable within the current financial capacity we have found ourselves.

"Another critical issue to development in any part of the world is human capital development. Our problem in Africa is education; we must put our acts together and take education as everybody's business. Stakeholders must recognise the deficit we are facing on our low level of human capital development. We need an effective and impactful educational system.

"That is why health and education sectors must be supported by the government and private sector. That is why we are expanding our health insurance scheme to ensure that people in the nooks and crannies of the state have access to healthcare, with as low as N500 all year round."

Country Director for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Southern Sudan, Prof. Kamil Kayode Kamaldeen said more attention should be paid to infrastructural development by both state and federal governments in areas of construction and maintenance of existing ones.

In his lecture, titled: 'Governance and Development in Kwara State: The Past, Present and Past", Prof Kamaldeen harped on key factors needed for a greater Kwara – vision, strategic choices to make better and secured future, and institutions with support roles to play in development.

Prof. Kamaldeen said the inclusion of people was essential to drive development goals, adding that resilience of the people at sustaining peace and harmony in the state would take it to the Promised Land.