Elechi tasks community leaders on projects implementation

BY PETER OKUTU
ABAKALIKI — GOVERNOR Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State, Tuesday, charged community leaders, Community Project Management Committee, CPMCs, and Local Government Desk Officers, LGDOs, responsible for smooth implementation of rural projects across the 13 local government areas in the state to ensure that on-going projects in their areas were implemented without delay.

He said the micro-projects, including construction of classroom blocks, mini markets, VIP toilets, mini rural water schemes, rural electrification projects, lock up stores, among others, were necessary to improve the well being of rural dwellers in the state.

The governor made this known while declaring open a 2-day training workshop organized by Ebonyi State Community and Social Development Agency, EB-CSDA, a World Bank-assisted project in Abakaliki.

The workshop by the agency was part of efforts to build the capacity of the CPMCs, sub-committees and LGDSs to undertake the implementation of micro-projects in their areas.

Elechi, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Economic Empowerment and Poverty Reduction, Mr. Cornelius Onwe, called on the participants, drawn from Abakaliki, Ebonyi, Izzi, Ikwo, Ezza South, Ezza North, Onicha, Ohaozara, Afikpo South and Ivo LGAs to make judicious use of the period of the training as they would be required to carry out the gains of the training in their respective communities.

He noted that the state government would not relent in its support to the agency, adding that the training was designed to equip participants with requisite knowledge and skills on project implementation, environmental and natural resources management and importance of community driven-development as a new trend in community development.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman Board of Directors, EB-CSDA, Mr. Onwe S. Onwe, congratulated the communities for being able to package their Community Development Projects, CDPs, in accordance with the provisions of the agency.

He counseled them to make judicious use of the funds released to them to ensure that all their projects were executed without any record of abandonment, noting that empowerment of community members.