Daily Independent Online.
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Tuesday, June 22, 2004.
Self-help development effort in line with govt policy—
Delta Commissioner
By Francis Onoiribholo
Special
Correspondent, Ughelli
The
Delta State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Community and Social Development,
Mrs. Mary Oranyeli, has said stated that self-help development by communities
was in line with the state government’s policy to provide basic social
amenities at the grassroots.
The
commissioner made the explanation at the weekend at the presentation of the
state government 2002/2003 Community Development Grant-in-Aid to Odorubu
Community in Patani Local Government Area of the state.
Mrs.
Oranyeli, who was represented at the ceremony by the Permanent Secretary in the
ministry, Dr. Moore Ebreme, observed that by constructing of a 10-classroom
block through combined effort, the Odurubu people had demonstrated their
ability to find solution to the dearth of classrooms for pupils of the
community to study.
According
to her, the project is a manifestation of the community’s desire to
improve the learning environment for primary school pupils in the area.
Presenting
the grant-in-aid of N35,000, the commissioner noted that it was not meant to
repay them for what had been spent
on the project, but a token by the government to encourage self-help efforts.
She
said the gesture would serve as a tonic to spur other communities in the state
to embark on self-help projects for the development of their areas.
Receiving
the grant, the chairman of Odorubu Community, Mr. Midwest Okpako, commended the
Governor James Ibori administration for spreading democracy dividends to the
nook and cranny of the state.
Okpako
further stated that the grant would encourage the community to embark on more
of such projects, assuring that the money would be judiciously used.
He
also assured the state government that the community would continue to maintain
peace in order to attract more government projects to the area.
