The Ogun State Government has released N85.5 million as Grants-in-Aid to Community Development Associations and as well its Council in order to enhance developmental projects in community areas across the State.
The Commissioner, Ministry of Community Development and Cooperatives, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat, disclosed this during a four-day programme organised by the Ministry for the 2020 disbursement of Grant-in-Aid to CDAs held in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Hamzat, who highlighted the procedures for the disbursement, said 400 CDAs had been considered to receive the grants in the first batch, while subventions would be disbursed to 300 Area Community Development Committees, 20 Zonal Community Development Committees, three Senatorial Community Development Committees and as well as the State Community Development Council, which is the apex body.
He assured that other members would be granted their cheques accordingly, noting that no association in the State in all these categories would be left without benefitting from the grant.
Hamzat affirmed that the associations were veritable tools for nation building in achieving geometric development both at the rural and urban areas in the state, hence the need for government support.
He said: “Let me affirm that the present administration recognises and appreciates the tremendous contributions of Community Development Associations to the development of our state.
“They are indeed partners in progress, especially towards the ‘Building our Futures Together Agenda’ of the present administration.”
Hamzat explained that about N10 billion had been committed to the provision of facilities such as Schools, Roads, Hospitals, Transformers, Boreholes by almost 9,000 Community Development Associations in the nooks and crannies of the state.
He added: “It is evident that no government can provide all the needs of the people, and it is in this view that the Community Development Associations take it upon themselves to provide their felt needs.”
Earlier in His remarks, the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, who was represented by the State Chief of Staff, Alhaji Shuaib Salis, said the grant would aid the proposed projects in their various communities.
Abiodun enjoined all members to allow peaceful co-existence among themselves, pledging that government would not relent in its efforts at ensuring maximum support for the Associations.
Responding, the Chairman, Community Development Council, Ifo, Prince Amos Oladele, expressed satisfaction for the disbursement, saying the grant would go a long way in the execution of their projects.
Oladele also assured that adequate supervision would be given to the beneficiaries so as to ensure the purpose for which the fund was granted.