Speakers at the 63rd birthday colloquium of All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Kwara State, Dr. Alabi Oluwatoyin Tajudeen (AOT), have outlined pathways for the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to reach N1.2 trillion annually.

They said Kwara could become the “tiger” of Nigeria’s economy, and even Africa at large, if a capable and committed leader succeeds Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Dr. Olatunde Oladokun of SEAP Microfinance, who spoke on “Economic Inclusiveness and Youth Empowerment: Leaving No Kwaran Behind,” said the state’s GDP could grow significantly if citizens, particularly those in rural areas, have better access to funding, especially loans.

Citing statistics that place able-bodied youths at about 97 per cent of the state’s population, Oladokun called for broad-based youth empowerment across all sectors and urged AOT to consider the recommendations.

Former Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Ajayi Okasanmi, urged government to prioritise the welfare and incentives of police personnel to enhance effective policing.

According to him, “Communities must be willing to provide timely information to security agencies. There must be trust between the people and the police.”

He also lamented the absence of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) in the state and called for more proactive leadership.

In his welcome address, Dr. Tajudeen said: “The Kwara of our dreams is one where no child is denied education, no entrepreneur is denied opportunity, and no community is denied development.”

He emphasised that the state’s true wealth lies in its people, not just its natural resources.

Speaking on the theme, “The Kwara of Our Dreams: Building on Legacy, Sustaining Prosperity and Empowering the People,” Tajudeen stressed the need for skills development, women empowerment, rural connectivity, and a strengthened civil service.

“Our youths must be skilled; our women empowered; our rural communities connected; and our civil service strengthened,” he said.

He added that prosperity must be structured and inclusive: “Growth must translate into jobs, revenue into infrastructure, and policy into opportunity.”

Tajudeen also called for an economy that is diversified, industrially competitive, agriculturally modern, digitally innovative, and investor-friendly.

He commended Governor AbdulRazaq for what he described as unprecedented infrastructural development, urging continuity through sustainable policies.

“The future is not built by noise; it is built by vision, courage, and disciplined execution,” he said.

Also speaking, the Proprietor of Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Irese, Engr. Thomas Adewumi, said Tajudeen possesses the capacity to sustain ongoing development in the state, particularly in infrastructure.

Chairman of the planning committee, Dr. David Olayemi, in his keynote address, highlighted Kwara’s strong human capital base, describing it as the state’s most critical resource for achieving economic transformation and becoming the “Tiger of Africa.”