‘635 World Bank micro projects being executed in Ekiti’

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi at the weekend disclosed that no fewer than 635 micro-projects were being executed in all the 133 communities across the 16 local councils of the state since 2018.

The projects, which he said were at various stages of completion, were being executed through the Ekiti State Community and Social Development Agency (EKCSDA).

The governor, who was represented by Chairman of the agency, Mr. Yemi Alatise, stated this during a stakeholders’ workshop on the report and outcome evaluation exercise organised by the agency in Ado-Ekiti.

Reiterating the readiness of his administration to continually assist the agency in providing counterpart funds as and when due, Fayemi noted that several life-changing projects in health, education and social services sectors that would bring more dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots were in the pipeline.

He said that arrangement had been concluded by the agency with the chief executives of local councils and community leaders in all the 16 local councils to assist the agency on how to maintain and sustain various projects executed by the EKCDSP in their various localities.

“The government will continue to make funds available, all that the communities need is to tap into the various windows created by the government to ensure that the developmental projects they want in the community are achieved.

“EKCSDP has been able to build more than 150 health centres and equip them with modern health facilities. It has also provided science and laboratory equipment in some schools in rural areas. We want to assure you that the agency will continue to function properly without interference,” he stated.

Meanwhile, a lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Ekiti State University (EKSU), Prof. Okunlola Olaniyi, said the programme, organised by EKCSDP, was aimed to evaluate several developmental projects executed by the agency across the state.

He, therefore, urged the beneficial communities to assist the government in maintaining and sustaining various micro-projects executed by the agency in their localities.

Also, the Ekiti State’s Statistician-General, Mr. Jide Oguntimehin, disclosed that statistics had shown that various projects executed by the agency in the last few years in the state had gradually reduced poverty in the rural areas.

He, therefore, stressed the need for members of the benefitting communities to assist the agency by paying their counterpart-funds at the appropriate time.

“Payment of counterpart-funds would not only ensure continuity in the projects of EKCSDP but would also encourage more dividends of democracy at the grassroots,” he said.