87 communities benefit from world bank projects in Anambra

The Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano has said the Community Social Development Agency will augment state government’s efforts in rural transformation.

He stated this at the Governor’s Lodge Amawbia, on Wednesday, when he received members of Board of the Agency led by its chairman, Igwe Rowland Odegbo and some World bank officials.

The governor who noted that the state government will continue to provide a veritable platform for the agency to achieve its aim stressed that funds given to it should be managed very well in line with World Bank standard, after which a proper structure will be put in place for sustainability.

In his speech, the state Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning and Development Partners, Mr Mark Okoye who said that Anambra state was the first to pass the law in 2009, noted that the project became effective on August 2018, while  interventions have been advanced in about eighty-seven communities, out of which thirty-seven projects have been completed.

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Mr Okoye pointed out that local governments where interventions had been taken include Anambra East and West, Ogbaru, Ayamelum, Awka North, Orumba North and South, saying that the purpose of the World Bank Scheme is to craft agencies to do sustainable community-driven projects.

Briefing the governor on the activities of the agency, its board chairman, Igwe Odegbo said that the goal of the project is to increase access of poor people to improved social and natural resources and infrastructural services in a sustainable manner.

While saying that the project is in tandem with the governor’s community choose your project initiative, Igwe Odegbo pointed out that full implementation started in March 2019, as they have approved thirty community development plans, ten group plans containing eighty-six micro-projects, with over five hundred total beneficiaries.

Community Social Development Programme is a pro-poor intervention which aims at poverty reduction and empowerment of communities.

The General Manager and Secretary of the board, Mr Chudi Mojekwu, Igwe Charles Agbala, Comrade Samuel Egwuatu, the agency communication officer, Mr Nnamdi, among others, were part of the delegation.