The Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has called on the World Bank to work in synergy with the Community Government Council created by his administration to strengthen its intervention programmes in the rural communities of the State.
He made this call while interacting with the World Bank Sector Leader in charge of Community and Social Development Projects (CSDP), Mr. Foluso Okunmadewa and his team at the Government House recently.
Speaking at the occasion, Governor Okorocha pointed out that Imo is the first State in the federation to operate the 4th tier government where Traditional Rulers and other community officials are directly involved in the management and execution of developmental projects in their areas.
He expressed his administration’s readiness to partner with the World Bank’s CSDP as it is directly involved with the rural communities.
Said he; “We very much want to partner with you and you can use Imo State to show the model of what you want to do since we have a government on ground that can guide you. Use our already established Community Government system to implement some of these rural projects.”
The Rescue Mission Governor recounted his administration’s massive transformation and empowerment to rural dwellers in the communities to include the palm to palm project, the integrated farms programme, renovation of primary schools including the 305 school buildings, modern General Hospitals being built in all LGAs, among others.
He commended the team on the tremendous impact the World Bank has made in some other States and assured them of his government’s support to ensure that such developmental projects reach all nooks and crannies of Imo State.
Speaking earlier, the Sector Leader, Mr. Foluso Okunmadewa said the World Bank has through its CSDP delivered quality intervention projects to people living at the grass-roots using the counterpart funding, which he noted is very essential in ensuring the sustainability of such projects.
He added that through their social support programmes, very poor families have gotten individual empowerment from the Agency and education provided to their wards.
Mr. Okunmadewa revealed that about seven States in the country working in collaboration with the Agency have recorded success and therefore urged the Imo State Government to hasten its payment procedures to meet up with the funding and integration requirements.
He said that the Agency had already extended electricity to few areas of Owerri North LGA and assisted in saving about 120 houses from flood caused by the rains, adding that more interventions will be rendered as soon as the State Government puts in resources into the Agency.
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