Okpe Communities Benefit As Delta CARES Rolls Out Development Projects

The Delta State Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (DCARES) program has launched two micro- projects in Okuokoko and Osubi communities in Okpe Local Government Area through the Community Driven Development Social Implementation Unit( CDDSIU)

The Chairman of the State CARES Steering Committee and Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr Sonny Ekedayen performed the launch at Okuokoko community townhall where the first tranche cheques for the installation of solar boreholes for the two communities were presented

The Chairman appreciated the governor of Delta State, His Excellency Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori for bringing sucor to Deltans through the numerous impactful interventions of the D-CARES program.

He revealed that project chosen by the communities will give them access to portable water, eliminate diarrhea and all forms of water borne diseases saying that Community members will be able to have water available at all times without going long distances in search of portable water.

The commissioner, who was represented by the Delta State Coordinator and Secretary of the State CARES Steering Committee, Lady Patience Ogbewe, advised the communities to be committed to owning the projects by guarding the projects jealously when completed. The communities were further enjoined to avoid vandalisation and wastages to ensure sustainability.

Another member of the State CARES Steering Committee and Commissioner for Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, Hon. Pat Ajudua congratulated the two communities for successfully passing through the rigorous process of securing the first tranche cheque to enable them to kick-start implementation of their first micro projects.

The commissioner who was represented by the Technical Head of Community Driven Development Social Implementation Unit, Mrs A. Orubu appealed that the funds should be judiciously utilized to be able to achieve good results that will bring good reimbursement back to the state government by the World Bank.

On her part,the State CARES Coordinator, Lady Patience Ogbewe explained that the Nigeria CARES 1.0 focused on emergency interventions due to the various sudden shocks brought by the negative effects of Covid-19 However, The Nigeria CARES Additional Financing (NG- CARES AF 2.0) is focusing on building resilience of individuals and communities by providing facilities and assistance that would build capacities of communities to withstand shocks.
She thus enjoined them to take absolute ownership of the projects to be sited in their communities.

Lady Ogbewe advised the Community Project Management Committee members(CPMC) to show leadership by involving members of the committee as the need may arise throughout the cycle of the projects implementation to show accountability and transparency even as she urged members of the community to give their full support and cooperation to the committee members for a quality and lasting project to be executed for the case of posterity.

The Technical Head of the Community Driven Development Social Implementation Unit, Mrs A. Orubu said the community should endeavor to provide their contributions for smooth implementation of the projects through labour , security and other relevant resources that could enhance the success of the project because the government provided major part of the funds.

She further stated that an Independent Verification Agents (IVA) from the World bank will come to evaluate the functionality and impact of projects and encouraged them to put it into use to earn reimbursement for government saying maintenance and sustainability of the projects are key.

Members of both communities were indeed appreciative of the gesture of the government bringing solar powered water to their communities and promised to maintain the projects.

The high point of the event was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the communities and D-CARES CDDSIU office and the presentation of first tranche payment cheques to both communities.