— says not less than 350 micro projects expected next year
Obansa Ibrahim, Lokoja
Kogi State Community and Social Development Agency (KGCSDA) said it has so far expended over N2.6 billion on 80 Community Development (CDs) projects and not less than 170 micro projects across the state in the last four months.
The General Manager of the Agency, Chief Dauda Momoh, who disclosed this at a Surprise Birthday Ceremony Organized by staff of the Agency in his honour on Friday in Lokoja described the feat as unprecedented in the life of the CSDA.
“We thank God that we are doing very well. You know, I’ve never said something like this before, affirming to you that the agency is doing very well. But this time I can categorically say we are doing very well.
“We have executed 80 Community Development (CDs) projects and not less than 170 micro projects within a span of three to four months. And it is unprecedented.
“I think this time around, the government of the day wanted to test our will and see whether we can deliver. We thank God that we’ve been able to surmount all challenges and we can beat our chests and say yes, we have done very well”, he said.
Chief Dauda Momoh, full of gratitude to God and to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo said, “I give glory to God.
“So far N2.6 billion was released to us and I thank God that we have executed projects even more than that 2.6 billion and I also want to use the opportunity to thank the Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo who has pushed us beyond our usual limits.
“Because initially we were scared that looking at the processes, the journeys we would have to make, the cost of fuel, moving from one place to another, the cost of putting up a building or to do most of those projects we used to do but we have been able to surmount all the hazards”, he said.
The General Manager noted that the mandate of the Agency was to enable remote communities to feel government presence through intervention projects that make direct impacts on their lives and well-being.
Against this backdrop, he said that the Agency had been able to do much and ensure sustenance of its intervention projects across communities because of its adoption of Community Driven Development (CDD) Approach.
This approach, he said, gives communities the opportunity to do their needs accessment and come up with particularly projects they want making them to imbibe the spirit and mind of ownership of the projects in completion and would naturally want to ensure maintenance of what belongs to them.
He hinted that the Agency might before the end of the year, execute a well planned media event to showcase its achievements.
“We’re planning to have a media chat where we’ll be online or on air with some communities for you to hear from them directly. I think it’s better you hear from the communities.
On the Agency ‘s plans for next year, the General Manager said, they should be able to surpass the achievements so far made saying, “So, I’m looking at between 100 to 150 community development plan across the three Senatorial Districts and there will not be less than 350 micro projects.
“So we have the capacity, we have the staff that can can do it. If we could do this within a span of three months or four months, you can see what we can do within a year with prompt release of money by His Excellency, we can do very well.”
Chief Dauda Momoh however hinted that all the accolades being poured on him for a job well done should rather go to the staff who have always been there willing and courageous to face the tasks at all times.
To mark the Birthday, Muslim and Christian clerics thanked God for the life of the General Manager and for granting him the grace to steer the Agency to greater heights where it had been able to positively impact lives in various communities across the state.
They prayed to God to lift the General Manager to higher levels saying that he had exhibited high leadership qualities and would be able to do more at higher levels for humanity as they prayed for his family and continued sustenance of the Agency.
Speaking on behalf of staff of the Agency, Pastor Sam Okpanachi, Project Officer (Social Safeguards) said it was with great joy and admiration that the CSDA team was extendeding their heartfelt congratulations to the GM on his birthday.
He said that Chief Dauda Momoh’s exemplary leadership and unwavering dedication had been pivotal in steering the agency towards achieving its mission of fostering sustainable development across Kogi State.
“Chief Dauda, your visionary approach and commitment to community empowerment have not only inspired us but have also significantly impacted the lives of many within our communities”, he said.
Speaking on behalf of the working Journalists in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Obansa, Vice Chairman of Kogi State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) described the GM as a humane and humble man who stoops to the level of everyone and listen to them.
Obansa assured the GM and staff of the Agency of the continued collaboration of journalists in the state with the Agency in its effort to drive development at the grassroots level.