Communities get N516m for self-help projects
Communities get N516m for self-help projects
By Evelyn Omotoye
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Cheques of a sum of N516m have been presented to 37 communities and 13 vulnerable groups in Ondo State to implement their self-help and empowerment projects under the Community and Social Development Project(CSDP) Additional Financing.
The state governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu officially presented the cheques on Wednesday to the beneficiaries who are the second set of benefiting communities and groups under the programme at the International Culture and Events Centre, The Dome in Akure.
The governor represented by his deputy, Mr. Agboola Ajayi said the move was to provide multifaceted approach aimed at tackling poverty and infrastructure deficit especially in the rural communities so as to reduce rural-urban migration.
His words: “The presentation of cheques to this set of beneficiaries is to enable them undertake their various self-help projects which is in furtherance of our administration’s desire to enhance accelerated rural development and extension services”.
He expressed satisfaction over the Buttom-Up Community Driven Development Approach institutionalised by the coordinating agency which gives the end-users resources and authority to drive development efficiently and effectively.
The governor therefore urged the beneficiaries to judiciously utilize the fund with high level of transparency to deliver quality and sustainable projects within their respective time frame.
In his welcome address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural and Community Development, Mr. Victor Olabimtan noted that Ondo state is one of the 27 states of the federation including the FCT participating in the CSDP, a programme fully certified by the World Bank to operate in the Additional Financing phase.
He highlighted some of the projects implemented under the programme stating that it has successfully delivered about 361 community self-help projects which had been taken over and managed sustainably to date.
Also speaking at the event, the General Manager of the Agency, Mr. Olatubosun Ogundipe stated that various units of the agency including Monitoring and Evaluation, ensure that all the projects are executed to specifications.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Ajege Foluke in Itesiwsju group from Igbobini lauded the government’s gesture, saying it would no doubt ameliorate their conditions and make them self reliant.
It would be recalled that a sum of #167m had earlier been presented to the first 19 benefiting communities in year 2017 at the onset of the Akeredolu administration in the state.