“Thank God for bringing me back into government and labour, to witness the commissioning of this 40-room block of hostel, donated by Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State. I am over-joyed to see that a governor can do this kind of thing for the labour institute”.

Those were the words of the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Hassan Lawal at the fourth National Labour Relations Summit held at the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin, Kwara State.

The minister, beaming with smiles, recalled that the governor’s decision to build the hostel was unbelievable, to him when he was first informed by the Director, Chief Executive of MINILS, Dr. John Olanrewaju.

He doubled the possibility of the labour institute benefiting so handsomely from a state government when many state governments are looking up to the Federal Government for succour.

Dr Lawal, however, told former president, Olusegun Obasanjo that should Saraki make good his promise, he (Lawal) would want the president to personally lay the foundation stone of the hostel.

President Obasanjo said: Labour, (that is what he usually called him) I will be there personally to lay the foundation”. And he (Obasanjo) fulfilled that promise.

Lawal quoted Obasanjo as saying, “I wish other governors would emulate this governor” (Saraki). The minister thanked God for making him to witness the commissioning of a project that started during his first tenure.

He was full of gratitude to Saraki. He also expressed the Federal Government and his ministry’s appreciation to the state government, for easing accommodation problem at MINILS.

“Dr. Saraki is one of the few governors in Nigeria today that have shown love for research learning”, he said.

Dr. Olanrewaju also benefited from the showers of praises, as the minister said he (Olanrewaju) had done so well.

“He had done so much in a very short time. All the encomiums being poured on me, on this institute should go to him”, he affirmed.

The minister said that the theme of the summit “Furthering National Development through Decent Work strategies” Appraising the role of the social partners is apt specially at this time, when juxtaposed against the backdrop of the present administration’s emphasis on wealth creation.

He added that the theme is equally relevant when seen within the context of his ministry’s drive towards repositioning itself for better service delivery.

He stressed that no meaningful and sustainable wealth can be created without decent work.

“I would like to commend the Michael Imoudu Institute for labour studies, for such a carefully and well thought out theme”, he said.

On efforts to reposition the institute towards effective response to emerging needs, kDr. Olanrewaju said the management is evolved in sever organizational development initiatives. He urged International Labour Organization (ILO) to make the MINILS resource centre and ILO regional reference centre to serve West Africa sub-region.

He said the resource centre and the hostel facilities would assist in the realization of the vision of transforming the institute into a regional centre of excellence in labour studies.

Commending the director and staff of the institute, NLC president, Abdu-waheed Omar said the infrastructural transformation of MINILS was impressive adding that it was a testimony to hard-work and judicious use of resource.

“We commend the director and staff for the progress made so far, and we urge them to keep up the good work”, he said.

Earlier, the Deputy Governor, CHIef Joel Ogundeji noted that the foundation of MINILS was laid during Senator Olusola araki’s tenure as Senate Leader. And that he brought the then president Alhaji Shehu Shagari to Kwara State to lay the foundation.