From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
A university Don, Professor Vincent Onodugo, of the department of marketing University of Nigeria Nsukka(UNN) yesterday explained the vitality of stakeholders in contributing to decide on the type of projects that will be sited in their respective communities, stating the stakeholders equally owe it as a duty to contribute in the funding of their specific projects as end users,in as much as it is their noble obligation to ensure security and maintenance of such projects.
Professor Onodugo dropped this hints at a sensitization workshop packaged by the Enugu state chapter of Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) to usher in it’s second phase of COVID-19 response and economic stimulus tagged Nigeria Cares,to be impacted in several communities in Enugu state.
Prof Onodugo described the stakeholders to include the community members,the traditional rulers,local government authorities, the legislature and the state government. He said the collective decision of all these groups through thorough consultation will ensure that projects that will imperatively impact on the welfare of the rural dwellers are attracted, constructed and completed, as against the current norm of embarking on bogus projects by some politicians that are often abandoned.
He said such projects as currently being canvassed by CSDA Enugu state, leverages on peoples involvement which is at the heart of constitutional democracy, and also brings governance and it’s benefits to the level where itbis most felt and appreciated in the rural communities.
The Enugu state CSDA acting General Manager,Mrs Ugochukwu Ugwunnadi,said the stakeholders meeting is the first in 5he series packaged by the agency to kick off it”s second phase of community centered projects, sponsored by the World bank in partnership with the Federal government and Enugu state government.
She disclosed that the agency will hold further engagements with stakeholders at various local government areas to enlighten and sensitise the various rural communities on the vital need to cue into the projects which equally will involve them after paying their own counter part funding.
The chairman, CSDA Board and Executive Director, Civil Liberties Organization,Comrade Ibuchukwu Ezike, who corroborated the CSDA acting General manager statement described the CSDA projects in Enugu state as very factual and effectively implemented with total support of Enugu state government.
He disclosed that Enugu state having completed all the projects in the first stage, is working hard to cue into the second phase of which the World bank has already mapped out 750 million dollars of which every participating state is entitled to twenty million dollars. He expressed optimism that CSDA in Enugu state will keep abreast with projects that will facilitate gradual release of the funds by World bank for project development in the rural areas of Enugu state.
