The Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has begun the bid opening for the 2021 FG/UBEC/SUBEB school intervention project, with the aim of enhancing basic education infrastructure in the state. This event follows the successful completion of the 2014 through 2020 categories, indicating ongoing commitment to educational development in Kwara.
The bid opening ceremony, held in Ilorin, was presided over by Kwara State Deputy Governor, Mr. Kayode Alabi. During his address, he highlighted the current administration’s commitment to paying counterpart funds, which has made Kwara State eligible to access Federal Government/UBEC funds to improve infrastructure in public schools. Mr. Alabi described the occasion as a significant milestone, noting that the state government is dedicated to attracting opportunities that promote growth, particularly in the basic education sector.
The Deputy Governor emphasized the administration’s priority on the development of critical infrastructure across various sectors, with a specific focus on improving educational institutions to foster quality teaching and learning. He urged successful bidders to adhere to project specifications and deliver quality work.
A total of 275 bids were submitted for the five project lots, which include the construction of blocks of two classrooms with offices in 23 locations, construction of VIP toilets in six locations, remodeling of classrooms in 20 locations, fabrication of teachers/pupils furniture with 250/2984 units, and drilling and installation of motorized solar boreholes in six locations.
The event was attended by various government officials, including members from state and federal establishments. Among them were the Chairman of Kwara House Assembly’s Committee on Education, Hon Baba Boriya; the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa’adatu Madibbo Kawu; and the Chairman for SUBEB, Prof. Shehu Raheem Adaramaja, among others. Contractors also attended in large numbers, reflecting the high level of competition and interest in the projects.
Prof. Adaramaja noted that the bid process is highly competitive due to the large number of bidders and projects available for award. He commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his consistent efforts to ensure the payment of counterpart funds and the use of all available resources to improve education in the state. He also announced that Governor AbdulRasaq has approved the 2022 and 2023 counterpart funds, with plans to advertise projects for these years in the near future.
Alhaji Magaji Akaje, representing the contractors, praised the government for its transparency in the bidding process and assured that they would deliver quality work if awarded the contracts.
The bid opening marks another step toward enhancing the basic education system in Kwara State, with the ultimate goal of creating a more conducive environment for teaching and learning.