By Odunayo Oluwabukola, Ibadan
The Oyo State Government, through the State’s Community and Social Development Agency (OYCSDA) has disbursed the sum of N159,458,373.75 (One Hundred and Fifty-Nine Million, Four Hundred and Fifty-Eight Thousand, Three Hundred and Seventy-Three Naira, Seventy-Five Kobo to eleven communities in the State for various micro projects.
The projects include building or renovation of blocks of classrooms with furniture, drilling of boreholes, construction or renovation of community health centers among others.
The disbursement of cheques to the Community Project Management Committees (CPMCs) was done during a two-day training for the CPMC members at Ibadan on Thursday after the participants have been taken through the capacity building and training, under the Nigeria Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme.
The selected eleven benefiting communities across Oyo State are Ajinde 2 Community at Ibadan South-West Local Government, Otesin-Maye community, Oyo East Local Government, Olohunde-Ige community at Oluyole Local Government, Ajumose Community at Iseyin Local Government, Ore-Ofe Community at Olorunsogo Local Government and Ifelanilo Community at Ibarapa North Local Government.
Others include Ayekale Kalubi community at Oriire Local Government, Aseyori community at Oyo West, Oloro-Olomo community at Ido Local Government, Alaseyori community at Igbojaye, Itesiwaju Local Government and Alubarika/Asabari community at Asabari LCDA, Saki.
In his words, the General Manager, Oyo State Community and Social Development Agency (OYCSDA), Mr Salaudeen Jelili said the training was targeted at equipping Community Project Management Committee of all the benefiting communities, who were democratically elected by their community members on ways to implement the projects in their domains.
He added that each of the communities will be paid Fifteen Million Naira for their micro projects, noting that 2.5% contribution by each community will be added to the 97.5% contribution of the State government to engender sense of ownership of the project.
“We are here today to conduct community project management committee training and project launch, the committee is the implementation committee, democratically elected by the people of the community to implement the projects.
“The budget limit for each of these micro intervention projects is N15million, the community will contribute 2.5% of the amount while the State government will release 97.5% to make it 100% as entailed in community-driven development projects approach, so that the community will have the sense of ownership, maintain the project and sustain it.
“Note that during and after the completion of these projects, it is the responsibility of OYCSDA is to monitor, technically advise, guide and evaluate for sustainability,” he told newsmen.
Among the people that attended the training event were members of State CARES Coordinating unit and representative of the State’s anti-corruption agency, OYACA.
In his words, the Baale Olohunde-Ige community in Oluwole local government, Ibadan, Chief Folorunsho Ige, appreciated the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, for what he called an encompassing developmental strides in the urban and rural communities.
Chief Ige called on the benefiting communities not to disappoint the State government by failing to deliver the projects to time and with quality materials, which he said will ensure its sustainability.