A community intervention scheme backed by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, is expanding across Ondo State, with a target of reaching all 203 wards in the 18 local government areas.

Known as Ondo Community Connect (OCC), the initiative has registered 800 communities, assessed 110 and delivered interventions in 74 communities.

The coordinator of OCC, coordinator of OCC, Iretidola Ojekhoa, disclosed this during an interview on the programme’s activities and expansion plans.

She said the initiative was created to allow communities to identify their most pressing needs rather than receive projects selected without their input.

OCC initially focused on communities around Akure but has since extended its reach to other parts of the state.

“Our core mandate is to touch all 203 wards of the 18 LGAs in Ondo State, and that is the standard we are now holding ourselves to, so no part of the state is left behind,” Ojekhoa said.

She explained that communities undergo physical assessments after registration, allowing residents to identify their most urgent needs.

Where several needs emerge, the programme applies a priority matrix based on impact, urgency, cost-effectiveness and the speed at which a project can improve living conditions.

Ojekhoa said the process allows women, youths and residents across different age groups to participate in determining community priorities.

At Ayede in Ilara-Mokin, Ifedore Local Government Area, residents identified the excavation of a blocked waterway as their most urgent need because of recurrent flooding during heavy rainfall.

An elderly resident reportedly appealed during the assessment, saying, “E wa wo ile mi, omi lo kun be,” meaning, “Come and see my house, it is full of water.”

Residents of Ireakari Community in Ilara-Mokin also identified road grading, drainage, a borehole and solar streetlights as major needs.

They eventually selected solar lighting as their priority, with Ojekhoa saying poles and foundation materials had been supplied and installation was underway.

Other communities, including Aaye, Ibuji, Kajola, Apatakpiti, Oke-Ogba and Ijigba, have also received solar streetlights.

Authentic Iyenge in Akure South, meanwhile, identified road rehabilitation as its priority.

The intervention has also extended to some public institutions. Positive FM in Akure received a 22kVA solar inverter system and 32 solar panels, while the National Identity Management Commission office in Akure also received support.

OCC has also introduced skills development as part of its intervention strategy.

Ojekhoa said some beneficiaries trained in shoemaking and leatherwork later received production contracts from the initiative to make school bags, sandals and high-visibility jackets for field personnel.

She said the programme drew some inspiration from Kogi Connect but differed in its sponsorship and operational structure.

According to her, OCC also reflects Tunji-Ojo’s community-focused activities before his appointment to the Federal Executive Council.

Ojekhoa said the programme initially planned to deliver one or two projects in each ward but later expanded the approach to allow multiple interventions where needs are verified and resources permit.

She said OCC would seek to increase its assessment rate over the next 12 months, reach more communities and accelerate interventions through partnerships and additional projects.

The programme also plans to produce a documentary to capture feedback and experiences from residents.

By the end of next year, OCC aims to assess at least 40 additional communities and complete interventions in communities visited under Batch B before commencing Batch C assessments.

Ojekhoa, however, said the pace would depend on funding, partnerships and the readiness of communities.

She identified sustainability and community ownership as other concerns, saying some costly projects had become unusable because communities failed to handle minor maintenance issues.

She added that some communities also returned repeatedly for further assistance after receiving earlier interventions.

Describing the pattern as the “Oliver Twist” effect, Ojekhoa said repeated requests could stretch available resources and delay interventions in other communities.

“The community has to remain responsible for ownership, otherwise we will keep going back and forth,” she said.

With 800 communities registered so far, OCC is expanding its assessment and intervention activities across Ondo State while working towards its target of covering all 203 wards.