L-R: Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; Governor Kayode Fayemi; Interim Chairman, All Progressives Congress, APC, Ekiti Chapter, High Chief Jide Awe; with representatives Ido Ile community, at the 2nd Phase of Grants-In-Aids to Communities, held in Ikere-Ekiti.
Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, on Thursday distributed cheques totalling N295 million to 95 more communities in the second phase of the Grants-in-Aid for communities across the State.
This is a sequel to the first phase of the empowerment from which 84 communities had benefited a few months ago in the tune of N300 million.
Speaking at the event held in Ikere Ekiti, the Governor explained that the gesture was borne out of the resolutions reached during his consultation with stakeholders and inventory of Uncompleted priority projects was taken from each community for governmental intervention.
Dr Fayemi opined that the provision of infrastructure via the grants-in-aid programme has increased confidence and reclaimed public trust in government ; stressing that the programme is anchored on developing rural communities “along the three pillars of infrastructure, institutions and industry”.
“One of the crucial reasons for the creation of the Ministry of Rural Development and Community Empowerment is to ensure the transformation of our rural communities in terms of infrastructure and industry in order to reduce the rural-urban drift. The development of the industrial base of the rural communities will surely be the next phase of this programme, and we will facilitate the establishment of cottage industries in cluster communities having similar natural resources to enhance sustainable livelihoods”, he said.
Governor Fayemi stated that the state government has approved a sum of N592,581,588.60 in the 2013 capital budget for the construction of 2 bridges, 72 culverts across the State, construction of 93 km of rural roads at 4km per local government, 26 hand-dug wells and drilling of 40 boreholes across the state as well as the perimeter fencing and gate house of the Cooperative College, Ijero Ekiti.
The governor added that in recognition of veritable role that cooperative societies perform in empowering people to create wealth, a sum of N300 million has been approved as revolving loans to cooperative societies in the State.
Meanwhile Governors of Imo and Nassarawa States, Rochas Okorocha and Umar Tanko Al-Makura have given Fayemi a pat on the back for the all-round rapid transformation of the State.
Okorocha had earlier in the day paid a congratulatory visit to Fayemi in his office after which he toured some parts of the State capital with him including Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti.
The Imo State Governor expressed satisfaction on the transformation drive of the Fayemi-led administration and added that he never expected less “from a progressive governor”.
Governor Al-Makura also witnessed the flag off of the reconstruction of Ikere township roads when he visited the State on Thursday.
Fayemi while flagging off the roads assured the Ikere people who had clamoured for the dualisation of the Ado-Akure road up to the State boundary that government had started the preliminary works as staff of the concerned Ministry have already started survey works as well as working on the number of people who would get compensation for affected property.
The Governor had earlier commissioned an Early Childhood Education Mega Centre at the State Secretariat in Ado Ekiti.
Speaking at the newly commissioned crèche, the State Deputy Governor and Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Prof. Modupe Adelabu stated that the centre has been replicated in two other senatorial districts at Ikere and Ikole Ekiti so that they could serve as models to other states of the federation on what a standard Early Child Development Education Centre should be.
The centers, according to her, were put in place from an award of good performance fund which the State SUBEB got and the prototypes of the projects will be established in the remaining local government Education Areas across the state in the 2012 and 2013 action plans.
Also speaking at the distribution of cheques to communities, the Commissioner for Rural Development and Community Development, Mr Folorunso Olabode had urged the benefiting communities to supervise the contractors handling their projects well so as to avoid any hitch.
Olabode who urged them to take communal ownership of the projects charged them to make judicious use of the fund; saying that all self-help projects should be ready for commissioning within the next 3 months.
Last modified: October 17, 2013