Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara state has declared that about 3,000 natives of the state will be employed by Chinese textile investment, tagged “Kwara Chetex Park” proposed to be located in Kwara north senatorial district, saying the signing of MoU earlier in China will bring about desired economic growth in the state.
It will be recalled that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for $56 million Kwara Chetex Park earlier this year during a five-day official trip to the city of Nimgbo in East China with a group of Chinese investors intended to boost industrialisation and employment opportunities.
Speaking in Share, headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state during the launch of Share Education Endowment Fund last week, Governor Ahmed said, “minimum of 3000 jobs will be created along Ifelodun, Edu and Patigi Local Government axis when the textile park becomes operational.”
Consequently, the State government has invested in agricultural production and agro-allied inputs for which existing and prospective investors could source raw materials, which will in return, improve industrialisation, wealth creation and job opportunities for teeming Nigerians, especially indigenes of Kwara state.
According to the governor, a sum of N1 billion has been made available under the administration’s Off Taker Demand Driven Agriculture Scheme for farmers involved in cropping, fish farming and animal husbandry, under which farmers will be provided with agricultural inputs approximate to the amount borrowed to ensure efficiency and eliminate diversion.
The governor promised that his administration will continue to ensure even development across the state “no part of the State will be disadvantaged in terms of infrastructure allocation.”
Ahmed noted that people’s partnership with the state government was crucial to success of prosperity-oriented programmes of the government, stressing that without the people’s contribution and active involvement, prosperity would not be created.
He said, “Government alone can’t create prosperity without your contribution. Thus, your responsibility, among others, is to partner the government to promote agriculture- the main occupation in our state, for food security, employment and alternative revenue.”
Governor Ahmed however, advised the people of the state to embrace peace and ensure good neighbourliness with investors, particularly at the time when new crop of investments are coming to the state, saying it is crucial in order for prosperity to manifest.
SIKIRAT SHEHU
