Joy and celebration were palpable as  four communities in Ondo state, on Friday, got N36 million,  from the Ondo State Community and Social Development Agency (ODCSDA),  in aid of their developmental projects .

  The fund  is to assist the  beneficiary communities  from the World Bank-assisted Community Development Projects in  the state.

In separate  interviews  with The Hope Metro, the communities’ beneficiaries, expressed joy over the gesture.

 Speaking during the presentation in Ondo West and Ilaje towns, the General Manager of the Agency, Mr  Bosun Ogundipe, said that the four benefitting communities were spread across the local government areas in the state, with the aim of touching all the rural communities.

Ogundipe, said the governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, charged the communities to use the money for the intended purpose, “by executing your desired projects as approved by the Agency.

“The judicious and prudent use of this first tranche will enhance the release of the second tranche,” he assured.

Speaking on the challenges confronting the Agency in carrying out its assignment, the GM identified the inability of some benefiting communities to pay their 10 percent community contribution, as a major factor slowing down the project, while he urged the interested communities to come to the agency for information.

Also, the Operations Manager, Mr Olumide Igbaroola, said the projects were carried out based on the choices of the communities in such areas, like electricity, construction of VIP toilet, construction of walkways, landing jetty and solar street light.

He said the communities were selected based on the poverty map of the state as the poorest, in terms of infrastructures.

Igbaroola advised the Community Project Management Committees (CPMCs) to be transparent in their dealings and work with the people in their various areas.

In one of the beneficiary communities, Ojokodo community, Ondo in Ondo West local government, the people  were full of joy,  describing the event as historical in the lives of the people of the area.

General Chairman of Ojokodo community, Chief Benbe Adepetu,  said the area has  been in darkness for over eight years due to lack of transformer and electricity poles.

He thanked the present administration of Arakunrin Akeredolu, through ODCSDA, for their quick intervention saying that the community is determined to execute the project with seriousness, in order to attract more from the Agency.

Also a community leader, Chief (Mrs) Victoria Oshowo, expressed gratitude to God for the presentation of cheque for the project, which she said is long over due.

She added that the community will support the committee in charge of the project to achieve success.

“We, as women of this community, we will stand by them to achieve success. We are grateful to Ondo state government and the agency for this project,” she remarked.

According to the agency, purchase of transformer and rural electrification projects were approved for Ojokodo community.

Three beneficiary communities in Ilaje, include Zion Ehinmore community, where the agency approved the construction of 800 meter walkways and solar street light.

Also, construction of block of VIP toilet and construction of 800meter walkways were approved for Aiyetoro community. While construction of 600meter walkways and construction of landing jetty were approved for Zion Ikorigho, all in Ilaje local government area of the state.