Senator Rafiu, the Career Helper of Kwara South - Akogun

*SENATOR RAFIU, THE CAREER HELPER OF KWARA SOUTH!* - Akogun

In 2019, when we were to have our Kwara South Conference, as KWAYORG President, I raised the thought of having a man I have heard a lot about him while he was Senator have a keynote speech at the Conference. Unfortunately, we missed the opportunity until 2022.

In 2022, I got closer to the man Rafiu Ibrahim and discovered a towering intellect.  A graduate and continuous student of the Saraki School of Politics. A man who have always reiterated “giving back to the tree that made him”, in loyalty and commitment.

As a refined and accomplished banker, with almost 2 decades specializing in investment

, treasury management and project finance. A fellow of Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria(FCIB) and holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration and a Ph.D in Business Administration from Lead City University.

I met a man with many professional affiliations before joining politics, who rose to serving meritoriously as Chairman of CIBN in Kwara State between 2010 and 2011.

For someone who, with God’s abiding mercies found his feet early in life and inspired by his political mentors, chose to be a source of continuous blessing to others.

There are pointers to the fact that the Creator had a hand in his resolve  to be a blessing to others. Many whose past have crossed with Rafiu Ibrahim bear eloquent testimonies in this connection.

With an outstanding track record of service delivery, vision for community development, empathy and giving, Rafiu Ibrahim’s date with destiny as a politician was easily predictable.

He won his bye - election into the Kwara State House of Assembly with a sterling performance of unequaled representation of his people.

He was easily recommended for promotion to the House of Representatives to the leadership of his party, the PDP with the convinction and support of the leadership structure to move up to a greater responsibility.

His election was a landslide victory in 2011 to represent the good people of Ifelodun, Offa, Oyun Federal Constituency.

As a lawmaker, he distinguished himself as a thoroughbred professional promoting good legislations and community development. His empathy makes his go an extra mile in meeting the individual and collective needs of constituents. His stellar performance both at plenary and committee levels, bringing to bare his upbringing as a professional who knew his onions. The man Rafiu was accustomed to meeting his people to have facts and figures to bring to bare on the floor of the House.

On his ladder of destiny got into the Senate in 2015 with a resolve; Legislation, Humanity, Community Development.

Respectful, intelligent and noiseless Rafiu Ibrahim served as Senate Committee Chairman, Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions and other ad - hoc Committees.

He leveraged on his experience and network, sponsoring meaningful bills that would help businesses and bills that will bolster the finance industry until they got Presidential assent.

The primary responsibility of a lawmaker being lawmaking and lobbying development for his constituents, the man Rafiu Ibrahim began lobbying his network for opportunities for his constituents in a contagious manner that instigates economic development and reduces poverty.

With 6 bills, supervision of 8 bills and 2 motions in the Senate in 2015 - 2019.

He had 9 inputs in the 2016 budget, 9 inputs in 2017 and 7 inputs in the 2018 budget.

At the Constituency level, he prioritized education, being a product of grace through education, sponsoring about 12 international Scholarships in international education abroad.

Hundreds of Scholarships and bursaries for Kwara South Students in Higher institution

He provided scholarships to 2 beneficiaries from Offa and Ifelodun LGAs who are aviation students. One was even unknown to Senator Rafiu, as he only saw people sourcing for funds for her school fees on social media to the tune of Five Million Naira. She eventually became the first pilot in Kwara South.

Another beneficiary of such largess was a male aviation technician at National College for Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria.

Prioritized Knowledge importation by building 8 units of 3 blocks of Classrooms in several Communities of needs, on a scale of preference and equipping many of such classrooms with ICT equipments.

Complete renovation of ICT Centre, College of Education Oro, for effective teaching and learning and learning through ICT.

Committed to payment of Thousands of students tuition fees, stationeries and uniforms annually.

Renovations of 17 dilapidated Classrooms, libraries and ICT Hubs.

Facilitated 8 CBT Centres to enhance e - learning and online tests.

Provides vocational and entrepreneurial trainings and funding to graduates and non - graduates in order to promote creative thinking and help more people recognize and tap into abundant opportunities having in mind, *the best leaders are passionate about developing emerging leaders. True leaders don’t create more followers, they create more leaders.*

In addition to prioritizing education and performing excellently in it, engaged in Construction and renovation of 2 water works in 2 LGAs.

Drilling of 33 motorized boreholes, 163 Hand pumps, provision of rural electrification; 38 transformers to different communities, 236 solar street lights, Renovation of traditional Royal palaces, provision of decent sanitary facilities in major markets, Distribution of cars to some associations, empowerment of 200 Kwara Southerners with N100,000 start up grant, 6 Road Constructions facilitated, Renovation of 13 units of 4 Classrooms with offices and stores, About 2500 business support for the businesses of old women, 27 vehicles to transporters, 132 tricycles, 320 motorcycles, Hundreds of Deep Freezers, Generating sets on Needs, Assessment, dryers, wheel chairs, Laptops, Photo and video cameras to artisans, church equipments, special interventions to Fulani Groups and several other Associations on request and on needs assessment done including Hundreds of Umrah Pilgrim and Jerusalem sponsorships.

These amongst lots of undocumented intervention of Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, as being called, “Asore ma ya foto” simply interpreted as a Giver without taking photographs.

*Why Senator Rafiu Ibrahim?*

The Distinguished Senator continue to receive calls of the state of abandonment of his projects done half way and the vendetta of the current occupants who rose to power on lies and propaganda.

It is as well obvious all Senator Rafiu did in the past has never been enough. He in synergy with his team came up with a 7 points manifesto, with a promise to kick the ground running immediately after his emergence.

The Manifestos as reeled out and circulated in prints includes: 

    1. 1000 youths to be empowered under the karakata hub in e-commerce, digital finance and digital trainings with start-up capital annually.

    2. Mechanized inputs and tractors facilitation to farmers on a large scale through partnerships with relevant government agencies.

    3. Funding and supply of drugs for about 160 primary health care clinics in all the 7 local government areas of Kwara South.

    4. Scholarship to 1000 bright and intelligent students in tertiary institutions and promotion of bright students for international scholarships in a transparent process.

    5. Annual federal government jobs facilitation in lucrative and sustainable agencies of government.

    6. Annual online and town hall meetings with teachers,  market women, transporters and artisans for intervention support and synergy.

    7. Legacy infrastructure facilitation to revive the spirit of industrialization and job creation in Kwara South.

Sen Rafiu Ibrahim took his time to explain how each of the Manifestos would be achieved, while laying credence to the fact that some of the Manifestos had commenced implementation at the unveiling to the admiration and commendation of all.

One last thing that has struck me, is his resolve to make his interventions in large numbers and to be made to reach all and sundry.

*This is the real deal!*

When we were about starting Karakata 2022, and he affirmed that he wishes the empowerment touch the nooks and crannies of Kwara South, whether you are a politician or not, a party man or not, I saw in him a new Leader for all! A large heart not only concerned about elections but about extending his large heart.

Pressures started mounting on him from different quarters, but he was never moved. He stood his ground to ensure the Karakata beneficiaries were all a product of merit. This is the new order when Sen Rafiu wins his Senatorial elections.

Children of nobody will continue to benefit from the large heart of their representative in the Senate and the implementation of his 7 point manifestos will begin to fix every sector of our dear region.

Distinguished Kwara Southerners, I want to remind you that in the next few days, our thumbs will be on the ballots to choose the next Senior law maker for Kwara South but before I delve much in the context, let me ask you, ARE YOU GOING FOR THE EXPERIENCE AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A PRINCIPAL OFFICER, DEPUTY SENATE PRESIDENT OR AN ORDINARY FLOOR MEMBER?

His sojourn in the Senate and his performance was superb with over 87 job facilitations across the 7 Local Government in Kwara South and countless of infrastructural projects and 6 bills to his credit.

WHAT HAVE THEY DONE? Ask them!

On several occasions, he chaired numerous Senate committee programmes in the 8th Senate and significantly he was once a Chairman House Committee on Banking. He is not just a figure head without robust contributions in the Senate and there were no scarcity of Naira during his tenure.

We might not have had his best, this being the reason he has decided to offer himself for service again.

He's a competent Advocate.

Trust God in me, Sen. Rafiu Ibrahim can never be the Incumbent Chairman on Banking matters and Nigerians will be buying new notes. 

He was a first timer in the Senate, and his erudition and capacity got him a Senate Committee Chairman, usually reserved for ranking lawmakers in their second tenured.

It's time to correct our past errors and bring back the competent Man.

Despite not being in office, he is empowering 350 participants under his Karakata programme with requisite trainings and the sum of #250,000, #100,000, #50,000 will be given to all the participants who are objectively selected across Kwara South and the 1,000 beneficiaries package which is coming up in June if elected.

Imagine if we have 1000 karakata participants empowered annually?

Imagine having 1000 farmers empowered in Mechanized Farming, farm inputs and agribusiness, having millionaires out of our farmers.

Imagine having a People's Assembly where decisions would be taken via town hall meetings in each Local Government.

Imagine having drugs distributed to about 160 Primary Health Centres every Quatre of the year?

Imagine the son of nobody becoming somebody through their Senator. This is the real deal. 

The career helper is here, let’s Send him by voting him as the next Senator Representing Kwara South on 25th February, 2023 under the Umbrella party, the PDP.

The real deal is here! He is the Career Helper!

Barrister Titilope Akogun

Omu Aran, Irepodun LG.

Special Ambassador, RIA.