Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has again reiterated the commitment of his administration to repositioning the state with a view to achieving an equitable level of development.

Besides, he charged the elite to play their own role in the development of the society.

Saraki, who stated this in Ilorin, the state capital,while speaking at the ninth yearly dinner of the Third Estate a socio-cultural group, contended that the developmenbt of a society should be the role of both the people and the government, with the elites playing the leading role.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Mr. Mas’ud Adebimpe, quoted him as saying that the main focus of his administration was to ensure that the state is turned around for accelerated development.

The chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum, who was the special guest of honour at the dinner, called on all notable indigenous of the state, particularly the elite, to partner with his administration to achieve the deserved development.

He explained that the efforts of his administration on economic activities in the last five years have yielded positive results with the springing up of commercial banks and establishment of a number of industries in the state.

According to him, his administration had resuscitated the moribund Kwara Furniture, Ogondroko cashew nuts processing factory and initiated the Shonga Commercial Agriculture Scheme and the Malete Youth Farm Settlement, among others.

All this, he said, had provided job opportunities for a size-able number of the unemployed youth and women.

Explaining the government’s contribution to stimulate the economy, Saraki said the infusion of N2 billion into the economy through a micro-finance institution and the merger of the government-owned Trade Bank with the United Bank of Africa (UBA) was to achieve this goal.

On the proposed gas extension to Ilorin, the governor disclosed that the proposal is nowin the master plan and assured the people of the commitment of his administration to pursue the project.

Besides, he announced that the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) would begin operations in the state by January.