COME AND CONTRIBUTE TO NATION BUILDING

Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has called on the indigenes of the state living in America to come back home and make their contribution to the development of their state and the nation. Gov. Saraki made the call in Seattle,Washington, United States of America (US) on Saturday during the conferment of Merit of Honour Award on him by the Kwara State Association of Nigeria , KSANG, North America chapter.

The governor told the organisers of the award to disregard whatever negative picture that might have been painted for them about Nigeria, urging them to come and take their rightful place in the development of their fatherland. He said the Kwara State government was prepared to work with KSANG to achieve this objective.

Saraki noted that Kwara State had recorded giant strides in the seven years of his administration, especially in the area of agriculture, energy, education reform, healthcare delivery, infrastructural development, housing and security. All these, he said, made Kwara a leading state in Nigeria today.

'In Nigeria today, Kwara State is a pacesetter and we will continue to play that key role in our dear state and the nation,' he said.

Also speaking at the occassion, the Nigerian Ambassador to the US, Prof. Ade Adefuye commended KSANG for the honour it bestowed on Saraki. According to him, it is not everyday that a country is blessed with a focussed, visionary and responsible leader like Gov. Saraki.

Calling on other governors to emulate Saraki, Prof. Adefuye said the achievements recorded by the Kwara State governor were not fluke because they were there for the whole world to see.

'It is a matter of fact that Kwara has one of the best electricity supply in Nigeria today,' he said and also commended Saraki for the invitation of white Zimbabwean farmers to initiate commercial agriculture in Nigeria. 'It takes a genius to do that.'

Prof. Adefuye called on Nigerians in the US to be good citizens in their host country. He said the relationship between Nigeria and the US had improved significantly with both countries signing bilateral agreement and Nigeria being struck off the US terror watch list.

All these, he said, should be complemented by Nigerians in the US by being good ambassadors of their country and living within the law of their host country.

Prof. Adefuye disclosed that the Nigerian Embassy in the US was sparing no efforts to improve on its services to adequately cater for the needs of Nigerians living in  America.

Also speaking at the occassion, the Governor of Washington State, Mr Bradly Owen, described Nigeria as an emerging market and a strong business ally of the US. According to him, there was need to enlighten the people that Nigeria was a growing economy and a safe place to invest. 'There is a need to raise the awareness that there are great trade opportunities in Nigeria,' he said.