Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has been named the Integrity Governor of the Year by the Nigerian Association of Christian Journalists (NACJ).

The award was presented on Tuesday in Ilorin by NACJ President, Dr. Charles Okhai, who said the Governor emerged tops in a ranking that featured four other states. He cited AbdulRazaq’s records in education, road infrastructure, healthcare, youth empowerment and transparency, as well as his administration’s commitment to the welfare of civil servants and teachers.

Okhai noted that the association was particularly impressed by the regular promotions and prompt salary payments, in addition to the transparent recruitment of not less than 8,601 teachers to fill manpower gaps in public schools.

He stressed that the recognition was not based on religion, but strictly on performance and national development. He was accompanied by Mr. Nasir Lawal.

Responding, AbdulRazaq thanked the association for what he described as an acknowledgement of “modest efforts” to deliver public good.

“We take this award as an acknowledgement of our modest efforts to improve the conditions of our people and deliver political goods to the largest majority,” he said.

He added that Kwara State has consistently stood out in peer-review indices for transparency and good governance, including in assessments led by the World Bank and other global organisations.

“We have made significant progress in every sector,” the Governor said, boasting that no government since 1999 has delivered as many projects in road connectivity, education, health, sports or tech infrastructure as his administration within the last six years.

AbdulRazaq also commended President Bola Tinubu for his continued support to Kwara State.