EXTRA: ‘Nobody is too big’ — Kwara gov leads grass-cutting exercise

Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, governor of Kwara, on Saturday, led some government officials to cut grass at Mount Carmel College in Ilorin, the state capital. 

The governor, in a statement through Rafiu Ajakaiye, his chief press secretary, said the exercise was done ahead of school resumption on Monday in the state.

Schools have been shut since March following the outbreak of COVID-19, but the federal government had on Friday announced full reopening of schools. 

The governor said his action is meant to inspire people to take responsibilities for government facilities located in their areas.

“My being here is to send the signal that nobody is too big to be involved in community work; we need to help ourselves. It is really no big deal to make things work,” he said.  

“There is scarcity of resources to go round. From the recent ecological disaster, it is clear that government can’t really cope in terms of funding. Communities should assist and join hands together, especially the parent teachers associations (PTAs).

“Everyone should cooperate with the government in order to keep the environment clean and mitigate environmental disaster.  

“There is a lot of work to be done. Most of our schools are dilapidated and many have also been affected by the recent flooding and rainstorm.

“So, the message is self help and community work. The communities should take ownership of schools and adopt schools around them.

“The neglect of schools is disgraceful and this justifies our commitment to invest in the schools. We will renovate and rebuild most of these schools because most of them are not about renovation. That is why the cost are coming high because we’re rebuilding some outrightly.” 

The governor said with the help of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the government will gradually put things back in shape.

He explained that the state will also need to train teachers and provide conducive environment for them to carry out their duties effectively.

Also present during the exercise were Magaji Olawoyin, leader of the state house of assembly, and Abdulrasaq Jiddah, chairman of the state environmental task force.