The management of Keystone Bank and Diamond Bank have expressed their readiness to partner with the Kwara State Government in order for the state to achieve its programme of shared prosperity.
The chief executives of the banks gave these commitments during separate courtesy visits to the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, in Ilorin.
The Managing Director of Keystone Bank, Mr. Oti Ikomi, told the governor that the bank has set aside N1 billion bridge finance portfolio, N500 million for youth empowerment programme and N250 million car loan facility for civil servants in the state.
Ikomi added that Keystone Bank was ready to partner with the state government in the provision of infrastructure in health, education and other sectors.
On his part, the Managing Director of Diamond Bank, Dr. Alex Oti, said the desire of the bank to finance the agricultural potential of the state was for the transformation of Kwara State into the food basket of the nation.
While describing Kwara State as a state blessed with erudite human resources, he assured the governor that Diamond Bank would partner his administration in tackling unemployment in the State.
Responding, the governor advocated for a robust funding model for the rejuvenation of infrastructure in the country, if Nigeria must realise its huge potentials.
Ahmed noted that it was through such funding that the decay in several sectors of the Nigerian economy could be halted, adding: “The decay in the energy sector alone has created unemployment and slowed down economic development of the country.
“This is why Kwara State has raised funds from the capital market for the rejuvenation of its critical sectors. Kwara State has designed itself to run like no other state based on our resourcefulness.”
Ahmed also said that his administration’s policy drive is hinged on creating a viable human capital development base on training of technical manpower to service vital sectors of the economy.
He said that the state had embarked on the refurbishing of its Technical Colleges while an International Technical College would be established to transform the State into the hub of technical manpower in the country.
The governor said his administration’s resolve to partner with the private sector in line with its shared prosperity programme was because the public sector needed the expertise and operation of the private sector to succeed in service delivery.