Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has affirmed that his administration’s developmental footprints can be seen in all 193 wards and 16 local government areas of the state.

Speaking on Thursday at the grand finale of the 2024 Press Week celebration of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kwara State Council, the governor, represented by his Special Adviser, Alhaji Saadu Salahudeen, highlighted major achievements in his five years in office.

These include the renovation of over 600 schools, large-scale road construction, and urban renewal projects.

Alhaji Salahudeen further mentioned the recruitment of new teachers, the payment of N750 million in salary arrears to staff at the state’s three colleges of education, and the payment of over N14 billion in Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) counterpart funds. Notably, the administration also eradicated polio within six months of coming into office.

The governor’s aide assured that the administration would continue to work closely with the media to foster development across Kwara State, stating that the government has created a more enabling environment for journalists to practice freely.

The event also featured a keynote lecture delivered by Senator Sadiq Umar, represented by Dr. Abdulrasheed Sadudeen.

Senator Umar emphasized the importance of active citizen participation in governance, stating that democracy thrives when citizens engage in the political process, hold leaders accountable, and advocate for transparency.

In a separate address, Professor Lukman Azeez, Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences at the University of Ilorin, urged journalists to focus more on investigative journalism to ensure government accountability. His address was delivered by Mrs. Oluwakemi Akerele, a lecturer at the university.

State Commissioner for Communication, Mrs. Bola Ojukoju, also addressed the journalists, urging them to uphold the ethical standards of their profession.

She advised media practitioners to verify their stories with the government to avoid misinformation.

The Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Alhaji Abdulhakeem Garba, condemned the recent attacks and arrests of journalists during the #EndBadGovernance protests and called for legislation to criminalize such actions.

He urged the National Assembly to protect journalists as they carry out their constitutional duties.

The event wrapped up with a commitment from the government and the media to work together for the betterment of Kwara State.