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Folake Sokoya
Kwara State has emerged the best State in the North Central and 6th in the country in the implementation of the Federal Government–led “Saving One Million Lives (SOML) initiative following an evaluation of the scheme carried out by the Federal Ministry of Health and the World Bank.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Communication, Dr Muyideen Akorede made this known while addressing press men on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.
He said that the State was assessed on the basis of maternal, newborn and child health, immunisation, contraceptive prevalence rate, usage of long lasting insecticide treated nets, delivery support and improvement in health care services.
Dr Akorede said that the council was pleased as it was a very good news for the State and its people to start the New Year on an excellent note.
He further disclosed that based on the success recorded in the first phase, the State has been selected among the 12 States that will benefit from the second phase of the scheme.
The governor’s media aide said that the council applauded the government for its effort in this regard.
Speaking further, Akorede said the council took note of the forthcoming electioneering campaign and stressed the need for all public commentators, party officials, clergy men and any individual engaged in public discourse to avoid any speeches capable of been labelled as hate speech or incitement.
According to him, council noted that Kwara under the watch of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed is a strong believer in the rule of law and freedom of expression as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria and directed the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Justice Kamaldeen Ajibade to bring to the attention of law enforcement agencies anybody found to be indulging in such actions.
Kwara Establishes Farm Produce Commodity Board
Meanwhile, Kwara State Government has also approved the establishment of a Farm Produce Commodity Board (FPCB) to address scarcity of essential commodities and stem inflation in the State.
This was part of the resolutions reached at the State Executive Council meeting held at the Government House in Ilorin on Wednesday.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Alhaji Mahmud Ajeigbe noted that the board, which would be private sector driven is aimed at also boosting commodity produce of the State in area of marketing and control.
He explained that the board will complement the efforts of the Off-taker Demand Driven Agriculture (ODDA) scheme and other agricultural schemes of the state government.
Ajeigbe added that the re-introduction of private-driven farm produce commodity board would help promote the agriculture business in the State, and noted that the board was revamped along current realities.
In addition, the Commissioner disclosed that the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Kamaldeen Ajibade will forward an executive bill to the State House of Assembly for the formal establishment of the Board.
Similarly, Ajeigbe said the council has approved the implementation of the Kwara State Monitoring and Evaluation policy, adding that the policy will henceforth be embedded in programmes and activities of the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the State.
He stated that the State Ministry of Planning and Economic Development is charged with the implementation of the policy and will also carry out regular review of the programmes.
