Cabinet: Ahead Monday inauguration, Gov Abdulrazaq holds 3-day retreat for commissioners-designate in Patigi

By Mumini AbdulKareem

Ahead of the inauguration of his cabinet reportedly scheduled for
Monday, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State is hosting the
Commissioners-designate to a three day retreat to prepare them for the
task ahead.
The retreat which is taking place at the Ahman Patigi University,
Patigi in Kwara North is coming months after the State House of
Assembly confirmed all the 16 nominees sent by the Governor.
A similar programme was held for the legislature by the Governor in
Ghana before their swearing-in, in June.
Some of the Commissioners-designate who confided in National Pilot
confirmed the date of the inauguration to this reporter, last night.
The Governor in a statement by Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye on
Wednesday called on the officials to make the required sacrifice in
his task of rebuilding the state.
According to the Governor, who was represented by the Deputy, Kayode
Alabi, “The objectives of the retreat are clear, unambiguous and
straight forward. It behovas on us all to participate effectively and
evolve plausible ideas that would help our administration to quickly
chart a course that would make the difference.
He said the retreat has been designed to sharpen the appointees and
place them on a better pedestal to impact positively on the people.
Apart from the Commissioners-designate, Special Advisers and other
government functionaries, Secretary to the State Government, Prof
Mamman Saba Jibril; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Aminu Logun; Head
of Service, Mrs Modupe Oluwole; and Chairman of the Kwara State
Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS), Mrs Folashade Omoniyi; among others
are also attending the event.
Abdulrazaq said the administration was elected to give Kwarans a new
lease of life, hope and to take the state to the frontline position in
the country, urging the appointees to bring their experience and
expertise to bear as they assume duties.
He said: “I implore you all to continue meaningfully to enrich the
outcome of this retreat for the good of the greatest number of our
people whom we were elected to serve. Through this effort, we would
have proved beyond any reasonable doubts that we are up to the task
and prepare to face the obvious challenges of governance.”
The Governor asked the incoming cabinet members to reflect upon the
agenda articulated in his inaugural address, saying discussions at the
retreat would centre on the priorities, expectations and objectives of
the administration.
He said the retreat would adopt the policy thrusts of the government,
identify key strategic priorities as well as strategies to achieve
them, and review the four years rolling strategy plan for Kwara State.
“Retreats of this nature are expected to give participants ample
opportunity to seriously reflect on the essence of governance and
evolve pragmatic vision that would not only stand the test of time but
which would be fully receptive to systematic implementation of
policies and programmes to make life more meaningful for our people,”
the Governor said.
The themes for the retreat included ‘Governance and Change; Building a
Culture of Growth and Learning; and Exploring Health and Wealth, among
others.