•Govt To Give Grants For ‘Self-Help’ Projects.
Kwara State Government on Saturday concluded a three-day capacity-building training for community-based organisations (CBOs), requesting citizens to support public projects and programmes to foster inclusive growth and sustainable development.
The training took off from Bode Sadu in Kwara North, headed South in Ajase-Ipo, and was concluded in Ilorin in the Central. At least 901 community-based organisations attended the three sessions from across the 16 local government areas.
The Kwara CBO Summit was organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to Kwara Governor on Community Development Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe who said the initiative was at the behest of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
The initiative seeks to foster awareness, deepen participatory democracy and sustainable development at the grassroots level, Olohungbebe said.
Over the three days, participants received lectures from renowned scholars and community development practitioners on measures and strategies to protect existing public projects, initiate new ones, and champion development at the various community levels, he added.
The facilitators included Olohungbebe; Dr. Sanusi Lafiagi; Dr Akosile Abdulfatai; and Dr Abdul Salam Sholagberu.
The finale was also attended by top government functionaries, including General Manager of Kwara State Social Investment Programmes (KWASSIP) Dr Abdulwasiu Olayinka Tejidini; non-executive director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Dr Ghali Alaaya; Senior Special Assistant on Islam Sheikh Ibrahim Dan-Maigoro; and Senior Special Assistant on Women Mobilisation Lawal Abimbola Monsurat.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who was represented by Counsellor and Special Adviser, Alhaji Saadudeen Salaudeen, drew applause from stakeholders and participants for the initiative, which was said to be timely and all-inclusive.
National President of Ilorin Emirates Development Union (IEDPU) Alhaji Abdulmumini Abdulmalik commended the Governor for the initiative, saying it was a step in the right direction for inclusive development.
The community leader urged the participants to imbibe the lessons taken from the training and extend them to their practices in their various communities.
Olohungbebe said the government will award grants and certificates of merits to outstanding communities following the appraisal of an independent panel in the coming weeks.
“The next step after the training is submission of their projects for review. Outstanding organisations will receive grants to fund either existing or new projects in their communities. We are looking to take at least three CBOs from each of the senatorial districts,” Olohungbebe said.
He added that the Governor is a community-focused leader who is passionate about working closely with the people to bring more dividends of democracy to their doorsteps across all facets of governance.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, representative of the Citizens Assembly and Executive Director, Centre for Community Empowerment and Poverty Eradication, Abdur-Rahman Akindele Ayuba, praised the government for the initiative.
He called for continuous partnership with the CBOs for inclusive governance and sustainable development in the state.