The Nation Newspaper

Tag: rural development

  • Kwara, World Bank vote N850m for rural development

    To ensure infrastructural growth in its rural areas, the Kwara State government in partnership with the World Bank has embarked on N850 million community development projects.

    The aim of the programme is to ensure that all 193 wards across the senatorial districts of the state have improved access to infrastructural services that will bring about sustainable  development.

    Fifty-eight communities are beneficiaries of the project, but 41 communities will be the first beneficiaries as they will be given various sums for community projects, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has said.

    He added, saying, “The remaining communities will receive their funds in coming months.”

    Ahmed said this in Ilorin, the state capital, during the project launch and cheque presentation ceremony organised by the state Community and Social Development Agency (KWCSDA).

    He said, “The money disbursed is the first tranche of the programme under which the state government is responsible for about N165 million released, while the 58 participating communities are responsible for about N18.4 million.

    “Furthermore, in order to facilitate the continuity of community development projects in the state, this administration injected the  sum of N50 million last year and an additional budgetary provision of N200 million in 2016 into CSDP as additional funding to consolidate government’s commitment to the project.

    “The presence of the counterpart fund of N200 million as contained in the 2016 appropriation allowed for further draw-down of over N670m to scale up the implementation of projects across the state.”

  • Kwara, World Bank earmark N850m for rural development

    Kwara, World Bank earmark N850m for rural development

    •Ahmed empowers women cooperatives with N20m

    To ensure infrastructural development of rural areas, the Kwara State government in partnership with the World Bank has embarked on N850 million ward-based community development programme.

    The aim of the programme is to ensure that all 193 wards across the senatorial districts of the state have improved access to infrastructural services that will bring about sustainable development.

    Governor Ahmed said this in Ilorin, the state capital, during the project launch/cheque presentation ceremony organised by the Kwara State Community and Social Development Agency (KWCSDA).

    His words “The money disbursed is the first tranche of the programmeunder which the state government is responsible for about N165 million released, while the 58 participating communities are responsible for about N18.4 million.

    According to Governor Ahmed, 58 communities are beneficiaries of the project, but 41 communities

    will be the first beneficiaries as they will be given various sums for community projects, Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has said. He added that the remaining communities will receive their funds in coming months.

    In order to facilitate the continuity of community development projects in the state, the administration he pointed out has injected the sum of N50 million last year and an additional budgetary provision of

    N200 million in 2016 into CSDP as additional funding to consolidate government’s commitment to the project.

    “The presence of the counterpart fund of N200 million as contained in the 2016 appropriation allowed for further draw-down of over N670m to scale up the implementation of projects across the state.

    Governor Ahmed therefore urged all communities participating in the programme to spend the money allocated to them solely for community projects that will have a positive impact on the lives of the people.

    “The judicious use of the first tranche and proper retirement of receipts will facilitate the release of the second and third tranches accordingly,” said Ahmed He hinted that community driven development approaches and actions are important elements of a sustainable development strategy.

    Similarly, the governor also recently disbursed a sum of N20 millionfor women cooperatives in the state.

    He said that the money was the first tranche of the programme under which a total of N41 million will be provided for women cooperativesin the state.

    He added that the remaining N21 million will be released to other qualifying women in the coming months.

    Theprogramme, the governor said, is designed to assist women who are the powerful majority of the electorate and are in dire need of financial assistance to do their businesses.

    His words: “As you may be aware, the empowerment scheme is part of the government’s efforts to enhance the livelihoods of women by supporting them to expand existing businesses and create new ones. To ensure spread, the first sets of beneficiaries are drawn from the three senatorial districts of the state: Kwara Central, Kwara South and Kwara North.

    “For this reason, the state government believes that women, being the largest component of our population, are critical to achieving our shared goals of prosperity.”In view of this, this government has put in place various programmesto educate, and empower women and young girls with the tools,

    resources and skills necessary to build productive lives for the benefit of the society.”

    Ahmed said that his administration has, from inception, prioritized the informal sector as a major driver of economic activities and as the area in which majority of our people make a living.

    “Our approach to strengthening the sector has been the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) scheme under which micro-credit funds are disbursed via micro finance banks to qualifying cooperative

    groups.

    “Indeed, the MSME scheme also offers a reliable, efficient and measurable means of empowering and creating jobs for important but disadvantaged segments of our population such as youths and women.

    “An example of this is the MSME scheme for small and medium scale businesses in the state which prioritizes women and young business owners.

    “I am pleased to note that the scheme has so far recorded a 75 per cent repayment rate and is certain to record even higher returns with today’s disbursement.

    He encouraged the beneficiaries to judiciously apply the funds for businesses and ventures for which they are intended.

    “I urge you all to join hands with the government to foster economic empowerment for all, as well as work towards ensuring the entrenchment of good governance by playing a complementary role such as paying taxes and keeping the peace,” he said.

  • Rural development: Abia CSDP gives N104million to 35 communities

    The Abia State Agency for Community and Social Development Project [CSDP] has given out a total of N104.2 million to 35 communities from across the 17 local government areas of the state for different community-based developmental projects.

    The projects, which range from markets, roads, VIP toilets, electricity, health centres, among others, are part of a partnership between the state government and World Bank that is aimed at ensuring rural areas are made conducive to curb urban drift.

    The project is based on counterpart funding as the communities are expected to provide 10 percent of the total contract sum while CSDP will provide 90 percent.

    Speaking at the ceremony in Umuahia, the General Manager of Abia CSDP, Dr Chinatu Njoku, said the agency was established by World Bank as one of the portfolios aimed at empowering communities.

    While handing over the cheques to the benefitting communities, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, who was represented by his deputy, Sir Ude Oko-Chukwu, said his administration is proud of what the CSDP has achieved in his time.

  • 35 Abia communities get N104m for rural development

    The Abia State Agency for Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) has given out N104.2 million to 35 communities from across the 17 local government areas of the state for  community-based developmental projects.

    The projects which range from markets, roads, toilets, electricity and health centres, among others, are part of a partnership between the state government and World Bank aimed at upgrading the rural areas to curb urban drift.

    The cheques of various amounts was given to 35 benefitting communities for their infrastructural development which is based on counterpart funding as the communities are expected to provide 10% of the total contract sum while CSDP will provide 90%.

    The projects in all the communities are always discussed by all members of the community and they also contribute the money for the 10% counterpart fund, this makes them joint owners of the project and also enables them to guard the project jealously.

    It is expected that all the projects which the additional financing were presented are all based on the need of each benefitting communities and will be completed before the end of December this year.

    Speaking at the ceremony in Umuahia, the general manager of AbiaCSDP, Dr Chinatu Njoku said that the agency was established by World Bank as one of the portfolios aimed at empowering communities and local governments to sustainably increase access of poor people to social and natural resource infrastructure.

    Njoku said that the projects are chosen by the communities, plan, part-finance, implement, monitor and maintain which are socially inclusive, “Therefore the projects are driven by the communities while the agency provides 90% of the project cost and the communities just 10%”.

    He said that the issuing of cheques to the benefitting communities are just additional funds as they had earlier been given funds that enabled them to commence their different projects but had to stop because the state did not pay its counterpart fund to the World Bank.

    The Abia CSDP boss said, “The CSDP prior to the additional financing intervened in 119 communities through funding of their developmental plans, 201 micro-projects were completed and the completed projects vary from community to community according to their needs”.

    In his welcome address the board chairman of Abia CSDP Chief Chijioke Onwutuebe said that the agency is of the state government established to sustainably increase the access of the poor to social and natural resources infrastructure in a sustainable manner.

    Onwutuebe said that the additional financing came as a result of the success achieved by CSDP and is a continuation of a successful partnership between the World Bank, federal government and Abia state government.

    He said, “Our thanks goes to the state government that made it possible for the additional financing to take-off in the state when other states were still battling with the decision to join in the venture”.

    “It is on record that our governor was the first in the federation to pay the mandatory state contribution and fulfil other conditions as stipulated by the World Bank for CSDP additional financing effectiveness”.

    In his opening remarks the chairman of the occasion and Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Prof Uche Ikonne said that the exercise is a continuous one which the administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has inherited with the aim of making the rural areas habitable.

    Prof Ikonne said that Ndigbo are known for their community development projects which the current government is assisting the various communities to achieve, stressing that the idea will help to reduce urban drift once the social amenities are provided.

    Speaking while handing over the cheques to the benefitting communities, the state governor, Dr Ikpeazu said that his administration is proud with what the CSDP has been able to achieve in his time.

  • How to stimulate rural development, by Alaafin

    How to stimulate rural development, by Alaafin

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has demanded the inclusion of Nigerian arts and culture in schools curricula. Their inclusion of arts in the curricula of primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, he said, would go a long way in ensuring cultural reorientation of youngsters.

    The Alaafin said since the major index of development is high living standard of the people, cultural heritage promotion should be part of the country’s development efforts.

    He stated this at a town hall meeting held with people in the ancient town.

    Alaafin pointed out that there is a critical need to find solutions to problems of cultural destitution and destruction in the name of modernisation.

    He added that what Nigerians must first do as a nation is to protect, cherish and nurture their cultural heritage through the pursuit of sustainable development policies that will marry culture and development.

    This, he said, is because any development that destroys our culture is counter-productive, so also is any culture that does not allow for development.

    According to Oba Adeyemi, “the graduation of the Asian Tigers, particularly China, from underdeveloped countries to developed countries was culture-driven. The root of Chinese development success was in the 1965-1968 cultural revolution that was meant to restore the cultural principles of the Chinese people and revolutionise political opinion and behaviour. Today, China is one of the strongest economies in the world courtesy of its development efforts driven by cultural rejuvenation and revolution. The foundation of our efforts at development must be the rejuvenation, protection and appreciation of our cultural heritage, which will be the bedrock of selling it to outsiders. If we do not appreciate our own cultural values, there is no way we can harness it for our development.”

    He said: “We must strive to maximise economic opportunities of our cultural artefacts and festivals for our development. All these can be developed to meeting international tourist standard and thus yield enormous foreign earnings to our governments at various levels. In the first instance, there would be a stimulation of rural development since most of the tourist attraction areas are located in the rural areas. Second, it would also lead to drastic reduction in rural-urban migration and human congestion in the urban centres which is one of the major economic problems of the contemporary Nigerian state because of employment opportunities and income generation that will be opened up for rural dwellers.”

    Alaafin cited the instance of the Yoruba which possessed famous traditions of art, precisely because they had productive economies and vibrant commercial systems, which allowed artists and craft workers freedom from scarcity and provided access to metals, woods and clay sculpture.

    The Yoruba, Oba Adeyemi said, have also created sophisticated institutions of government.

    “The Yoruba cultural impact is so great not only in Nigeria but also in modern Brazil, Cuba and the Americas where their religion and culture have remained pervasive. This remarkable cultural triumph makes the Yoruba experience one of the most fascinating subjects of historical study in the world. This rich history has placed a significant onus on the Yoruba people and their leaders in the contemporary society given particularly the developmental challenges confronting the Nigerian nation.”

    He continued: “the Yoruba are heirs to an ancient, rich and cultured civilisation. This culture is known for its artistic triumphs,extraordinary oral literature, complex pantheon of gods and an urban lifestyle. Yoruba cultures are rooted in excellence, hard work, dedication, determination, sincerity, frankness, truthfulness, ingenuity, industry, and resourcefulness. This is the main reason why

    “Yoruba people are the engine of growth of the development of this great country. They are at the fore front of the various sectors of the national economy such as health, education, agriculture and so on”.

    Oba Adeyemi also elaborated on Ifa divination, which he referred to an ancient Yoruba knowledge system that “reveals to us the coherence, logicality, precision and profundity of thoughts, philosophy, mathematics and computer science as known and practised by the Yoruba before the 11th century A.D.”

    He described Ifa as the greatest unwritten Holy Book on earth, a perennial fountain of esoteric knowledge from which all prophets derive their inspiration.

    To the Alaafin, “science, especially computer science is ‘Ifa compatible’. The computer like Ifa is based on the binary system.

    Implicit in this development is the ease with which national unity could be forged if these unifying cultural strands are carefully studied and emphasised.

  • How to stimulate rural development, by Alaafin

    How to stimulate rural development, by Alaafin

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has demanded incorporation of Nigerian arts and culture in schools curricula. The incorporation of arts in the curricula of primary, secondary and tertiary institutions he said, would go a long way in creating cultural reorientation for youngsters.

    The Alaafin said since the major index of development is high living

    standard of the people, cultural heritage promotion should be part of the country’s development efforts.

    He stated this at a town hall meeting held with people in the ancient town.

    Alaafin pointed out that there is a critical need to find solutions to problems of cultural destitution and destruction in the name of modernisation.

    He added that what Nigerians must first do as a nation is to protect, cherish and nurture their cultural heritage through the pursuit of sustainable development policies that will marry culture and development.

    This, he said, is because any development that destroys our culture is counter-productive, so also is any culture that does not allow for development.

    According to Oba Adeyemi, “the graduation of the Asian Tigers, particularly China, from underdeveloped countries to developed countries was culture-driven. The root of Chinese development success was in the 1965-1968 cultural revolution that was meant to restore the cultural principles of the Chinese people and revolutionise political opinion and behaviour. Today, China is one of the strongest economies in the world courtesy of its development efforts driven by cultural rejuvenation and revolution. The foundation of our efforts at development must be the rejuvenation, protection and appreciation of our cultural heritage which will be the bedrock of selling it to outsiders. If we do not appreciate our own cultural values, there is no way we can harness it for our development.

    He said: “We must strive to maximise economic opportunities of our cultural artefacts and festivals for our development. All these can be developed to meeting international tourist standard and thus yield enormous foreign earnings to our governments at various levels. In the first instance, there would be a stimulation of rural development since most of the tourist attraction areas are located in the rural areas. Second, it would also lead to drastic reduction in rural-urban migration and human congestion in the urban centres which is one of the major economic problems of the contemporary Nigerian state because of employment opportunities and income generation that will be opened up for rural dwellers.”

    Alaafin cited the instance of the Yoruba which possessed famous traditions of art, precisely because they had productive economies and vibrant commercial systems, which allowed artists and craft workers freedom from scarcity and provided access to metals, woods and clay sculpture.

    The Yoruba, Oba Adeyemi said, have also created sophisticated institutions of government.

    “The Yoruba cultural impact is so great not only in Nigeria but also in modern Brazil, Cuba and the Americas where their religion and culture have remained pervasive. This remarkable cultural triumph makes the Yoruba experience one of the most fascinating subjects of historical study in the world. This rich history has placed a significant onus on the Yoruba people and their leaders in the contemporary society given particularly the developmental challenges confronting the Nigerian nation.”

    He continued: “the Yoruba are heirs to an ancient, rich and cultured civilisation. This culture is known for its artistic triumphs,extraordinary oral literature, complex pantheon of gods and an urban lifestyle. Yoruba cultures are rooted in excellence, hard work, dedication, determination, sincerity, frankness, truthfulness, ingenuity, industry, and resourcefulness. This is the main reason why

    “Yoruba people are the engine of growth of the development of this great country. They are at the fore front of the various sectors of

    the national economy such as health, education, agriculture and so on”.

    Oba Adeyemi also elaborated on Ifa divination, which he referred to an ancient Yoruba knowledge system that “reveals to us the coherence, logicality, precision and profundity of thoughts, philosophy, mathematics and computer science as known and practised by the Yoruba before the 11th century A.D.”

    He described Ifa as the greatest unwritten Holy Book on earth, a perennial fountain of esoteric knowledge from which all prophets derive their inspiration.

    To the Alaafin, “science, especially computer science is ‘Ifa compatible’. The computer like Ifa is based on the binary system.

    Implicit in this development is the ease with which national unity could be forged if these unifying cultural strands are carefully studied and emphasised.