Kogiflame
The Chairman of the Kogi State NG CARES Steering Committee (SCSC) and the Honourable Commissioner of Budget, Finance and Economic Planning, Hon. Asiwaju Idris Asiru has stated that the intervention of the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG:CARES) Programme in the state is targeted at rural communities and ‘Hard to Reach’ remote areas lacking basic social facilities.
The Commissioner who was represented by Chief Dauda Momoh, General Manager, Kogi Community and Social Development said the intention is aimed at reducing poverty in a sustainable manner.
The General Manager, made the disclosure at Okene, Kogi state during the opening ceremony for the third batch of the Special Training on Project Management Implementation for the Community and Group Management Committees.
He disclosed that the Kogi State Community and Social Development Agency is one of the delivery platforms for the state on the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG:CARES).
He pointed out that the agency is working in partnership with the communities and groups in selected communities based on the poverty map of Kogi State.
The Agency he added has identified and prioritised 170 Micro projects to be completed in 80 Area in Kogi State rural communities across the twenty one local government areas of the state with over 200,000 beneficiaries.
The General Manager expressed gratitude to the Governor of Kogi state, His Excellency, Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo for funding the programme, assured rural communities of extensive development projects aimed at reducing poverty, combating hunger, and promoting self-reliance.
He expressed appreciation to the commitment of the state government in prioritizing the welfare and development of the people, assuring them that more positive changes are on the way.
He also explained that a minimum of two micro projects, which must be basically social basic facilities of minimum of two projects makes up the Community/Group Development Plan and is estimated to be of benefit to 200,000 and more rural dwellers for this phase of intervention.
According to the Agency’s work plan, all the Community Development Plans are scheduled to be fully implemented and operational by September 2024, urge the Community/ Group Management Committees to adhere to project specifications.
He warned that the agency would sanction and blacklist any defaulters, commended the current administration for providing the necessary funds for Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus programmes, which has allowed for uninterrupted project implementation.
Recalled that the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo, recently flagged of the training of the communities and groups to be funded with One Billion, Six Hundred Million Naira Only as part of the state government support for the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG: CARES) programme for community investment.
Communities represented by the Members of the Community Project Management Committees at the third batch include Aiyetoro (Ogori-Magongo LGA), Esomi-Osochokodo (Okene LGA), Ochozariji (Okene), Ikaturu (Okehi LGA) Ohusechi (Adavi LGA), Ekuruye-Oro (Okehi LGA), Idiche- Iruvukura (Okene LGA), Idichegede (Adavi LGA).
Goodwill messages were presented by His Royal Majesty, Chief Amos Abisoye Oyewole, the Udeji Okeka and Daudu of Ogoriland and His Highness, Alhaji Murtala Inakakana, the District Head of Okene 1. The Monarchs called on participants to be responsible and responsive to their various communities and prayed to God to grant the state government knowledge and understanding towards continuing the good work that the present Governor, His Excellency Ahmed Usman Ododo has started.
