7TH KWASFEST KICKS OFF AS GOV. ABDULRAZAQ AIMS AT RAISING INTERNATIONALS

The 7th Kwara State Festival tagged “KWASFEST 2020” kicked off today Monday, 27th of January, with thrills arising from sporting, cultural and social enactments stagged by the participants drawn from all the sixteen Local Government Areas in the State.

The 7th edition of the festival is a revitalisation by the present Administration in the State to revolutionise the sports sector in the State as it is anchored in discovering hidden talents in the State.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the festival held at the Kwara State Stadium, Ilorin, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, commended the participants, whom he described as “talents”, for turning up to ensure that the event does not falter.

Represented by his Deputy, Mr. Kayode Alabi, the Governor said that the festival is to avail the participants an ample opportunity to show their talent to the whole world and explore the benefits accrued from the sporting career.

AbdulRazaq expressed hope that the talents discovered at the end of the festival will one day emerge internationals who will be making Kwara proud.

The Governor also highlighted the various achievements of the present Administration in the sports sector and promised to upgrade some sports facilities in the State to refurbish the decadent state of the facilities left by the past Administrations.

He then urged all the stakeholders to continue putting their efforts into the successful staging of the festival.

He pointed out the significance of teamwork, which he said is synonymous with friendship needed in the course of developing the State.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, and Chairperson, Main Organising Committee on the Festival, Hon. Joana Nnazua Kolo, described regeneration of the festival by Governor AbdulRazaq as another epochal turn of event in the history of sports in the State, noting that the gathering of all the LGAs in the sports medium is fertilisation and reiteration of the harmony for which the State is known.

Hon. Kolo said that His Excellency is on the crusade to make youths in the State deviate from perpetrating all forms of social vices and start embracing positively rewarding activities.

Saying Governor AbdulRazaq deserves people’s applause for his excellent achievements, the Commissioner thanked the Members of the Main Organising Committee for answering the call of the State.

The ceremony featured cultural displays by troupes from eight LGAs, march pass by each LGA, lighting of the torch of unity and others.

The occasion had in attendance the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Mamman Saba Jibril, honourable members of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Commissioners, SAs, Permanent Secretaries, members of the Main Organising Committee and others.

Real sporting activities commence tomorrow and continue until the 1st of February, 2020.