Speakers at APC Aspirant's Colloquium Outline N1.2 Trillion GDP Vision for Kwara State
During the 63rd birthday colloquium of All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Kwara State, Dr. Alabi Oluwatoyin Tajudeen, speakers presented ambitious economic projections, forecasting the state's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could reach N1.2 trillion annually. They emphasized that with capable leadership, Kwara has the potential to become a major economic force, not just in Nigeria but across Africa, following Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq's tenure.
Economic Inclusiveness and Youth Empowerment as Key Drivers
Dr. Olatunde Oladokun of SEAP Microfinance, speaking on the topic "Economic Inclusiveness and Youth Empowerment: Leaving No Kwaran Behind," highlighted that significant GDP growth is achievable if citizens, especially those in rural areas, gain better access to funding, particularly loans. Citing statistics indicating that able-bodied youths constitute approximately 97 percent of the state's population, Oladokun called for comprehensive youth empowerment initiatives across all sectors and urged Dr. Tajudeen to consider these recommendations in his political agenda.
Security and Community Trust for Effective Policing
Former Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Kwara State, Ajayi Okasanmi, addressed security concerns, urging the government to prioritize the welfare and incentives of police personnel to enhance effective policing. He stressed that communities must be willing to provide timely information to security agencies, and trust between the people and the police is essential. Okasanmi also lamented the absence of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) in the state and called for more proactive leadership to address security challenges.
Dr. Tajudeen's Vision for a Prosperous Kwara
In his welcome address, Dr. Tajudeen articulated his vision for Kwara, stating, "The Kwara of our dreams is one where no child is denied education, no entrepreneur is denied opportunity, and no community is denied development." He emphasized that the state's true wealth lies in its people, rather than just its natural resources. Speaking on the theme, "The Kwara of Our Dreams: Building on Legacy, Sustaining Prosperity and Empowering the People," Tajudeen stressed the need for skills development, women empowerment, rural connectivity, and a strengthened civil service.
He outlined key priorities: "Our youths must be skilled; our women empowered; our rural communities connected; and our civil service strengthened." Tajudeen added that prosperity must be structured and inclusive, with growth translating into jobs, revenue into infrastructure, and policy into opportunity. He called for an economy that is diversified, industrially competitive, agriculturally modern, digitally innovative, and investor-friendly, while commending Governor AbdulRazaq for unprecedented infrastructural development and urging continuity through sustainable policies.
Support from Educational and Planning Leaders
Engr. Thomas Adewumi, Proprietor of Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Irese, expressed confidence in Dr. Tajudeen's capacity to sustain ongoing development in the state, particularly in infrastructure. Additionally, Dr. David Olayemi, Chairman of the planning committee, highlighted Kwara's strong human capital base in his keynote address, describing it as the state's most critical resource for achieving economic transformation and positioning Kwara as the "Tiger of Africa."
The colloquium served as a platform for discussing actionable strategies to propel Kwara's economic growth, with a focus on inclusive policies, security enhancements, and leveraging human capital to achieve the projected N1.2 trillion GDP target.
