Kwara Deepens Security Strategy — KwaraETF Chairman, Col. Abdulwahab Lawal (Rtd), Joins High-Level Committee.
April 16, 2026
The Board of Trustees of the Kwara State Education Trust Fund (KwaraETF), alongside Management and a distinguished group of expert resource persons, convened a two-day Strategic and Capacity Building Retreat from April 18–19, 2026, at Pinnacle Resource Centre, Igbonna, Kwara State.
The retreat served as a high-level strategic engagement focused on strengthening the Fund’s long-term sustainability, governance systems, funding architecture, and institutional resilience as a platform for transformative education financing in Kwara State.
Bringing together experts across law, governance, development finance, investment strategy, institutional sustainability, and education reform, the retreat created a space for honest reflection, bold thinking, and practical decision-making around the future of the Fund.
Resource persons at the retreat included Folawe Omikunle (CEO, FRO Limited); Akin Oyebode (Chairman, Forum of State Commissioners of Finance); Odun Eweniyi (Co-founder & COO, PiggyVest); Paul Adepelumi (CEO, Reigns Management Consult); Funke Shittu (Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare); and other experts who led sessions on institutional governance, investment strategy, funding sustainability, donor readiness, and long-term continuity planning.
Throughout the retreat, the Board reaffirmed its commitment to repositioning KwaraETF as a credible, transparent, and sustainability-driven institution capable of mobilising both public and private capital to support long-term education outcomes.
Speaking during the retreat, Chairman of the KwaraETF Board of Trustees, Colonel Abdulwahab Lawal (Rtd), described the retreat as a defining moment for the institution.
“The question before us is no longer whether KwaraETF works. The real question is whether it can last, whether it can grow, and whether it can stand independent of changing circumstances. We are not here to defend the past — we are here to design the future.”
Colonel Lawal further emphasized the importance of building an institution capable of outliving political cycles and adapting to changing funding realities.
Also speaking at the retreat, the Executive Secretary of KwaraETF, Oluwadamilola Amolegbe, noted that the retreat was intentionally designed as a strategic reset focused on sustainability, institutional credibility, and transition readiness.
“Funding does not come to intention — it comes to structure. If KwaraETF is to attract sustainable support and build long-term credibility, then we must strengthen our systems, sharpen our institutional identity, and make bold decisions that position the Fund for the future.”
- Key discussions during the retreat focused on:
- Expanding sustainable funding pathways and endowment development;
- Strengthening governance and accountability systems;
- Building donor confidence through stronger financial and reporting structures;
- Deepening partnerships with government, private sector, and development stakeholders;
- Positioning KwaraETF as a systems-enabling platform for scalable education interventions;
- Strengthening institutional continuity beyond political transitions.
The retreat concluded with renewed commitment from the Board and Management to implement strategic reforms and institutional priorities that will strengthen the Fund’s long-term impact and position KwaraETF as a leading model for sub-national education financing in Nigeria.
