Kwara will partner FG, relevant agencies to drive development, says deputy gov

By Steve Oni, Ilorin

Kwara State government has assured that it will continue to partner the Federal Government and the World Bank so as to ensure that poor communities in the state maximally benefit from the Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) intervention programme.

Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi, who gave the assurance on Monday in Ilorin while declaring open a three day 2019 Second Quarter Review Meeting of the Management team of the 30 participating States in the Project, said Kwara state would meet its contractual obligations, especially the prompt payment of the required counterpart contributions.

“The achievements of CSDP in Kwara State are overwhelming and we thank God for the initiative. This Government will therefore do everything possible to see to the continuation of the pro poor project in the State”, he said, adding that the state government, through the Kwara State Community and Social Development Agency, has so far drawn a total sum of N1.3 billion with over N841m disbursed to communities since 2016 to date.

Acknowledging that 249 micro projects have so far been completed and in use while 49 are ongoing across the poverty focal local governments of the state, the deputy governor said the administration would not relent in meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the state.

Also speaking, the National Coordinator of National Social Safety Net Coordinating Unit, Apera Iorwa represented by Mohammed Dikko Bala admonished the States to provide conducive environment for the success of the project in their states.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, Alhaji Tayo Oyelowo, who said the project has been of immense benefit to the State, urged States to address key issues such as sustainability and ownership on the part of communities.

In his welcome address, the Project National Coordinator, Dr. Abdulkarim Obaje commended the Kwara State government for its giant strides in various fields, while assuring the state of Federal Government’s continued support to the state government’s effort to make life bearable for the people.

Dr. Obaje called on the 30 participating States to be alive to their obligations in order to benefit fully from the project.