From Audu Joe, Lokoja
The Kogi State Government has spent N143 Million as grant for Community and Group Development Plans.
No fewer than ten communities have benefited from the N143 million grant for community and group development plans through the Kogi State Community and Social Development Agency (KSCDA).
The communities are Agassa Widows , Ojochegbe widows, Ire Abana, Igbaruku , New-Zango Layout and Bagido.
Others include, Ife-Olukotun, Ukpolojogene, Inike and Zango-Daji communities.
Governor Yahaya Bello while flaging-off the community driven Development Policy and a one hundred and forty-three million naira grant for community and group development plans in Lokoja yesterday, said the gesture is aimed at reducing poverty and increasing access of the poor and vulnerable to infrastructure for human development.
The Governor who was represented by the Secretary to Kogi State Government, Dr. Mrs Folasade Arike Ayoade noted that these communities and groups expressed interest by applying for the Agency’s intervention, after which a need assessment through the participatory rural appraisal was carried out and their various needs were identified and prioritised.
“A field appraisal was carried out to identify suitable project sites and address possible environmental and social issues. After which communities and groups were trained on basic community and group project management ahead of implementation.
“Haven satisfied conditions for disbursement, these communities and groups are ready for the flag-off of their respective community and group development plans,” he stated.
The Governor noted that the flag-off was unique and spectacular, because this is the very first-time community and group development projects will be funded wholly by the State Government adding that his administration has been very supportive of the Kogi State Community and Social Development Agency.
“The Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) closed on 30th June, 2021 and since then the government has been funding this Agency. What this administration is doing today, is the domestication of the Community Driven Development paradigm in our rural and remote areas of the state.
“Kindly permit me to use this forum to express the appreciation of the Board Management and Staff of the Kogi State Community and Social Development Agency for all your kind disposition to us and making the Agency to be relevant in your development scheme.
Governor Bello assured critical and strategic stakeholders that his administration would not fail them pointing out that he would do more for the confidence and trust they have in his administration.
His words, “We would want you to understand that the money that we would give you today is free and not a loan. Even though is free to you, it is a loan to the State Government, which the State will definitely pay one day.
” I also want you to understand that what we are doing, is very much in line with the poverty reduction and rural development policy of this administration. This government has keyed-in and in partnership with different initiatives and programmes aimed at reducing poverty and increasing access to opportunities that can better the life of the good people of this State.
“This government will not relent in its efforts and will take advantage of any opportunity to lift people out of poverty and better the life of the wonderful people of Kogi State. The aforementioned explains why the Kogi State Government has embraced and keyed into the Nigerian Covid-19 Action Response and Economic Stimulus Programme(N-CARES), a World Bank programme. Government has put in place everything to meet up the readiness requirement.