Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State
As governments at all levels strive to strike a balance between residents of rural and urban communities in any given society in terms of ensuring equal opportunities in the provision of basic infrastructure, Our Correspondent, Joseph Amedu, Writes on the efforts of Kogi State Community and Social Development Agency in boosting rural transformation across the three senatorial districts of the state.
Community simply has to do with a group of people living together and sharing common language, manners, tradition and law while rural on the other hand is referred to non-urban inhabitants. Also urban residents are known for their characteristics of modern and city life with the privilege of having access to basic infrastructure such as roads, potable water, electricity, sound healthcare delivery and quality education amongst others.
The living conditions of the people in the urban areas no doubt, is far better than those in rural communities because of the privileged opportunities that are not readily available at the grassroots.
Primarily, the provision of these capital intensive facilities or services like quality education, healthcare delivery, access to potable water, electricity and roads rest majorly on government of the day. But as government alone cannot carry out the obligation, rural communities are therefore, encouraged not to relent in complementing the effort through self-help projects.
Following this vital obligation, the Kogi State Government in its quest to fully transform rural communities like their urban counterparts for enhanced standard of living, established “Kogi State Community and Social Development Agency (KGCSDA)” saddled with the responsibility of rendering financial aid to the grassroots dwellers across the state to embark on the projects of their choices.
The Agency through the World Bank Assisted Programme, aided many communities in the three senatorial districts of Kogi State to execute construction/renovation of Clinics, Motorised Boreholes, Schools, Electricity, Town Halls and Drainages to mention but a few.
However, the prompt response in the payment of counterparts funds to the World Bank by the Kogi State Government accounted for the Agency’s Giant Strides in impacting positively on the lives of the rural populace.
Using Kogi East as a case in point, it was a jubilation galore over the weekend, when the Kogi State Community and Social Development Agency led by its General Manager, Mallam Dauda Jimoh, commissioned completed Micro- community projects at some Communities in Dekina and Ofu Local Government Areas in the eastern flank of the state.
The inaugurated projects include Clinic and Water facilities at Ajiolo, Igademu as well as renovation of School building and constructed of Clinic at Olowa and Drainage and Water infrastructure at Ajedimoku Communities, all in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi East.
Also the completed construction of Box Culvert, Town Hall and Clinic at Owowolo in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi East were commissioned.
While commissioning the projects, the General Manager of Kogi Community and Social Development Agency, Dauda Jimoh told the benefiting communities that they are the owners of the facilities provided them through the support of his agency and should therefore strive to imbibe maintenance culture by taking good care.
“You are expected to take adequate care of these amenities. It is your responsibility as owers to purchase equipment and personnel to man them. You are also expected to protect these infrastructure against vandalization” he advised.
He however, promised that his agency will not hesitate to assist where necessary for the sustenance of the facilities but purely within its capacity.
The General Manager during the commissioning equally presented a cheque of One Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety Seven Thousand, Six Hundred and Thirty Seven Naira, Fifty Kobo(N1, 7997, 637.50) to Ojochebo Widows Association for the commencement of work on the group’s hostel building and water projects within the premises of God Will Orphanage at Anyigba.
Also the General Manager presented a cheque of One Million Eight Hundred and Seventeen Thousand, One Hundred and Ninety Two Naira, Forty Eight Kobo(N1, 817, 192.48) to Ukpolojogene Community to begin its Clinic and Electricity projects.
Dauda Jimoh disclosed that the two groups are expected to receive a total sum of N8 million each to execute their projects. He said the money is in the custody of his agency and would be released to them in three tranches as their work progresses. He urged the benefiting groups to make judicious use of the money for the purpose intended.
In a speech by the chairman of Owowolo community development association, Joshua Ijaja, expressed appreciation to the Development Agency for its support towards the completion of the projects.
He said that the facilities have already started to impact positively on the lives of the people of the community and called for the upgrading of the Health Centre to a Cottage Hospital.
Similarly, the chairman of Project Implementation Committee for Ajedimoku water project, Andrew Ochika expressed gratitude to the Kogi Community and Social Development Agency for its support towards the construction of classroom blocks, water and drainage.
