Kwara Govt Speaks On Funding Wizkid Concert In Ilorin — AbdulRazaq

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has denied that the government was behind the popular musical concert that featured pop star Wizkid in Ilorin, adding however that the event was a welcome development and could be a springboard to promote entertainment and get local talents hooked to other talents from outside the state.

He laughed off claims that the administration spent N200m to organize an end of the year party, saying those behind the claims were the people who brought the state to its knees and thought everyone was like them.

Stressing the need to grow the entertainment industry and empower talented youths, AbdulRazaq said he requested a meeting with Wizkid in his house yesterday where he sought a partnership to empower local talents especially the Kwara Idol and other programmes that have grown the creative industry.

The event, which was attended by House of Assembly Speaker Yakubu Danladi Salihu, cabinet members, civil society organisations, scholars and community leaders, was organised by Kwara Development Trackers (KDT), a non-profit platform of apolitical Kwarans who are driven by the need to urgently fix the huge infrastructure deficits in the state as captured in the compendium.

AbdulRazaq said the compendium was a challenge for him to deliver more to the people, noting that the rot he met on the ground has forced the administration to rethink his campaign manifesto in line with the current realities. The Governor said his strategy for a better Kwara included putting in place the necessary infrastructure to attract investment, such as massive rehabilitation of schools and health centres, engaging and training the necessary manpower, and making the state a hub for innovation and enterprise.