The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has called for urgent measures to diversify the Country  economy from Oil to agriculture, Small Scale business and others.

However, stressed the need to increase investment in agriculture and small and medium scale enterprises.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq  said this in Ilorin, yesterday, during a meeting with the participants of Course 28 of the National Defence College who were on a study tour of the state.

The theme of the study tour was: “Economic Diversification and National Development in Nigerian 

The Governor also said his administration was prioritising small and medium scale businesses and agro-processing.

He added; under his administrative is engaging with various companies to grow small and medium scale businesses.

“We are also encouraging Companies to deepen their investments here. Very soon, the Kwara State Social Investment Programme will come on stream, especially targeted at lifting the poorest out of poverty line, empowering the artisans and small business owners and teaching skills to thousands of others.

Speaking earlier at an event commemorating the World Food Day,  Governor AbdulRazaq, said the state would partner various stakeholders to ensure food security, especially sugar production which he identifies as major comparative advantage for the state.

“The way forward is agriculture and agro-processing. That is our future. We are in central part of Nigeria and Kwara alone can feed the nation. This is particularly true in sugar production where we have the potentials to feed the whole country,” he said, citing the upcoming $350 million sugar refinery by BUA Group, the coming on board of the Dangote Group and ongoing talks with AMCON to revive the Bacita Sugar Company which located at Edu local government in the state.

The Governor also restated his commitment to lift as many poor people out of the poverty, through the Social Investment Programme bill that is currently with the State House of Assembly for sign. He expressed optimism that hoping that investments in small enterprises would spread prosperity and comfortably bring more companies and individual into the tax.

Responding, Commodore Henry Hassan, leader of the Course 28, commended the Governor for his giant strides in helping the people, adding that his, “unusual way of mobilising your men to go to the grassroots and see things for themselves” stands him out as a great leader.