The former Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Barr. Adeniyi Farinto and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Ademola Ojo, on Wednesday, joined the Chairman of Oyo State Community and Social Development Agency, Hon. Abideen Adetokunbo Adeaga to commission a block of three classrooms at Iganna, Iwajowa Local Government.

The block of classrooms is an education intervention project, funded by the OYCSDA alongside a motorized borehole, located at Olopele village, Idiko-Ago, for the people of Tiwalere community in Iganna.

While speaking with newsmen at the event, the Chairman of the agency, Hon. Abideen Adetokunbo Adeaga appreciated Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State for deeming it fit to fund micro-projects across communities in Oyo State, to ameliorate social straints of the people.

He said the block of three classrooms with teachers’ and students’ furniture and was designed to be durable, to engender a conducive learning environment.

“We are grateful to our amiable Governor for making this possible today, the Governor will be happy if he were to be here today to see the multitude of people that came to witness the commissioning of the education advancement project.

“He has made available, enough fund for this project, among others in the areas of education, community healthcare centers, water, sanitation and erosion control, we owe him a big commendation.”

The Chairman, Iwajowa Local Government, Hon. Muritala Oyewumi also commended Governor Makinde for providing conducive environment for socioeconomic development in Iwajowa and Oyo State in general.

He extended his gratitude to the OYCSDA for coming to the aid of Tiwalere Community Project Management Committee (CPMC) for the intervention in the education, water and sanitation sectors.

Present at the event was the Oyo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Ademola Ojo, the former Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Barr. Adeniyi Farinto, a former Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Michael Adegbite among others.

Signed:

Alhazan Abiodun Rilwan,

Project Public Relations Officer (PPRO),

Oyo State Community and Social Development Agency (OYCSDA),

Ibadan.

…..Trains LG Chairmen, HLGAs, Desk Officers on Projects Implementation

The Oyo State Community and Social Development Agency (OYCSDA) has announced that the ongoing sixty-six micro-projects across communities in Oyo State have created 20,000 jobs for members of the communities that have skills in carpentry, bricklaying, plumbing, electrical engineering among others.

This was disclosed on Thursday by the Chairman, Oyo State Community and Social Development Agency (OYCSDA), Hon.  Abideen Adetokunbo Adeaga at one-day capacity building workshop for Chairmen of the thirty-three local government areas, the Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) and Desk Officers attached to OYCSDA’s micro-projects, where communities are implementing projects from the financial intervention of the agency.

While appreciating the State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, for releasing funds for the micro-projects, Adeaga clarified that the projects include construction or renovation of community health centers, provision of beddings, furniture and hospital equipment, construction or renovation of blocks of classrooms and toilets, teachers and students furniture and VIP toilets, drilling of boreholes as well as construction of culverts and line drainages to fight erosion.

“The sixty-six micro-projects that are currently ongoing in all the thirty-three local government areas of Oyo State, like those delivered before now, are source of joy for the people of these communities, because their worries on conducive learning environment for students and teachers, their fears of erosion, their headaches about lack of portable water and access to basic health care, are gone because the agency injected close to #18million to each community for project intervention, which translated to wealth distribution and local institution empowerment.

“It is worthy to note that apart from these basic areas of felt-need interventions, the ripple effect that has been noted for record is that 20,000 jobs have been created for artizans in these communities.

“So, in this respect, we have to organize this capacity building training for the thirty-three local government Chairmen, the HLGAs and the Desk Officers attached to OYCSDA’s micro-projects, for them to know more about their responsibilities on the implementation of these developmental projects.”

In his remark, the Chairman, Lagelu Local Government, who spoke on behalf of other council Chairmen, said they were happy with the development in their respective local government areas where the projects were sited and promised to give their support to ensure the projects are delivered to time and standard is maintained.

The General Manager, OYCSDA, Mr Salau Jelili pointed out that one of the essential principles of the World Bank-assisted programmes through the Nigera Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) is synergy and collaboration among stakeholders and institutions, to achieve set goals, adding that the objectives of the workshop include empowering local government administrators with knowledge, skills and techniques to take charge of the development of their people.

He also spoke on the topic “OYCSDA: Success Story” where he cataloged the achievements of the agency from the days of Local Empowerment and Environmental Management Project (LEEMP), CSDP till the present era of NG-CARES.

The second resource person was a former Operations Manager of OYCSDA,  Alhaji Amidu Adepoju, spoke on “The Roles and Responsibilities of Local Government Review Committee and The Local Government Authority in The Implementation of NG-CARES Projects,”

Special guests at the occasion include the State’s Commissioner for Finance, who is the Chairman Steering Committee on NG-CARES/OYO-CARES, Mr. Akinola Ojo, who was represented by Mr. Giwa Babatunde, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Prof. Musibau Babatunde, who was represented by the Director, Resident Registration and Research, Mr. Salisu Olaonipekun and Mrs Ajose Alirat who represented the Auditor-General of Oyo State, Mr. Olatunji Daramola.

Signed:

Alhazan Abiodun Rilwan,

Project Public Relations Officer (PPRO),

Oyo State Community and Social Development Agency (OYCSDA),

…….Reiterates Makinde’s Commitment to Eradicate Out-of-school Children Syndrome

The Oyo State Community and Social Development Agency (OYCSDA) has disbursed funds for the implementation of another 132 micro-projects across sixty-six communities in Oyo State.

This was disclosed at a training programme organized by the agency on Monday at the House of Chiefs, Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi Ibadan, where focus was directed at  project implementation procedures, aimed at bolstering resilience and economic recovery.

In his keynote address, Hon. Abideen Adeaga, who is the Board Chairman of OYCSDA, expressed gratitude to Governor Seyi Makinde for his unwavering support in approving the collaboration programme with the World Bank and the Federal Government to achieve the gains of the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme in Oyo State.

The NG-CARES initiative, domesticated as OYO-CARES, according to Adeaga, seeks to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable population, unemployed youths, small businesses and farmers.

He highlighted the program’s significant interventions across 66 communities, marking a historical milestone in the State’s community development efforts.

He also acknowledged the Governor’s recent decision to increase project funding from ₦15 million to ₦18 million due to rising costs, ensuring that community-driven micro-infrastructure projects in areas like healthcare, education, water, and erosion control are successfully completed.

These efforts, according to the Chairman, are tailored towards eradicating the out-of-school children crisis by construction and renovation of schools with furniture and toilets, mitigate the effects of erosion on communities through intervention in culverts construction, as well as construction and renovation of community health centers and provision of motorized boreholes for the people in the various communities.

“This gesture from our Governor for approving the disbursement of funds to sixty-six communities across the State is unprecedented, so that OYCSDA would embark on such massive micro-projects.

“It is also noteworthy to State that the Governor approved the review of each Community Development Plan (CDP) from #15million to #18million, so as to take care of the economic realities of the day.

“All these are tailored towards total eradication of the out-of-school children syndrome in our State, eradication of water-borne diseases and to guide against untoward occurrences caused by erosion in these communities,” he added.

The General Manager of OYCSDA, Mr. Jelili Salau, emphasized the training’s dual purpose of building the capacity of CPMCs and initiating the disbursement of funds to kick-start community projects.

He applauded the Governor’s foresight in approving funds for 66 concurrent projects and underscored the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders for the program’s success.

The NG-CARES initiative, as stated by Salau, designed, using a Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach, empowers communities to identify, plan, implement and manage their own micro-projects, with OYCSDA ensuring quality standards, supervision, and effective financing throughout the process.

Goodwill messages were delivered by the former Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly,  Rt. Hon. Moroof Atilola, the Special Adviser to Governor Makinde on Education Projects Intervention, Hon. Tiamiyu Suraju, a former Permanent Secretary and General Manager of OYCSDA, Alhaji Busari Olalekan, Engr. Abisola Adabanija, a member of the OYCSDA board, Mrs Jadesola Ajibola as well as the representative of the OYO-CARES Coordinating Unit among others.

Signed:

Alhazan Abiodun Rilwan,

Project Public Relations Officer, (PPRO),

Oyo State Community and Social Development Agency (OYCSDA),

Ibadan, Oyo State.

The Oyo State Chapter of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) have commended the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde for spreading Community development micro-projects across the thirty-three local government areas of the State.

The Association’s executive members, who paid an official familiarization visit to the Oyo State Community and Social Development Agency (OYCSDA) in Ibadan on Monday, were led by their Chairperson, Comrade Omolola Alamu.

The team, which was received by the OYCSDA Chairman, Hon. Abideen Adetokunbo Adeaga and the General Manager, Mr. Jelili Salawu, called for further funding of the agency so that more positive impacts could be made in various communities of the State.

Alamu said “we are here to show support to the State Government through this agency that has done so much to impact the communities across the State in the areas of education, health, sanitation, water and erosion control, as well as provision for women and vulnerable people in the society.

“As media practitioners, we promise our support to OYCSDA towards projecting its activities to the general public and to as well facilitate good feedback from the entire people of Oyo State.”

In his words, Hon. Abideen Adetokunbo Adeaga appreciated members of Oyo NAWOJ and promised to give continue to ensure gender balance in every programme and project of the agency.

Adetokunbo maintained that the present administration in the State has done all that is possible to make living easy for community dwellers in across the State, which prompted the micro-projects interventions in critical sectors.

He informed the female media practitioners that under the Nigeria Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES), micro-projects that include construction and renovation of classrooms, culverts, construction of community health centers, provision of motorized boreholes among others have been done across the thirty-three local government areas of Oyo State.

He stated further that the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach of the agency has assisted in making the projects enduring, as each benefiting community took ownership of the micro-project.

While appreciating the NAWOJ members on behalf of the management of OYCSDA, the General Manager, Mr. Jelili Salawu, also called on journalists in Oyo State to continue giving their support to the present administration in the State under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde as well as OYCSDA.

Signed:

Alhazan Abiodun Rilwan,

Project Public Relations Officer (PPRO),

Oyo State Community and Social Development Agency (OYCSDA),

Ibadan.

The Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA) has warned members of the Community Project Management Committee (CPMC) from fourteen communities across Oyo State that benefited from the fund disbursement for various projects by the Oyo State Community and Social Development Agency (OYCSDA), not to mismanage the money.

The advice came on the heels of the disbursement of about #210million for projects ranging from construction and renovation of classrooms, construction of culverts, community health centers, drilling of boreholes among others by OYCSDA’s Chaiman, Hon. Adetokunbo Adeaga on Thursday at Ibadan.

The representative of OYACA who spoke at the training and fund disbursement programme, Mr. Lere Omotoso harped on the need for prudence by the committee of each committee as laid down in the training given at the event and supported by the Community Development Programme (CPD) document, to avoid the wrath of the law.

“You have been told that every penny from the fund released to you must be accounted for and the system to monitor and ensure accountability has been put in place, make sure you spend the money on the materials, workmanship and other services needed for each project and not frivolities.

“The Oyo State Government has done its part by partnering the World Bank and Federal Government to make funds accessible for our communities to do projects that we think we need, it is our duty to reciprocate same by being diligent in our spendings.”

The Chaiman, OYCSDA, Hon. Adetokunbo Adeaga in his speech at the occasion, praised the efforts of the State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde for making funds available for communities in the State to address areas of their major needs.

He said the funds will improve access of people to portable water, motorable roads, primary healthcare, as well as conducive teaching and learning environment for teachers and students.

He enjoined the CPMC members to ensure the projects are completed as at when due and are enduring, for them to have their names etched in the anal of their communities’ histories.

“Do all within your power to complete the projects according to timelines and standards, let us commit to working together with respect, inclusivity and open communication, let us celebrate our diversity and harness our collective strength to achieve success.

“At this juncture, I want to express profound gratitude to His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde for making this possible and being committed to taking actions that reduce the people’s suffering and also create the conditions for prosperity,” he said.

The General Manager, OYCSDA, Mr. Salau Jelili noted that the NG-CARES programme that catered for the projects’ funding targeted existing and emerging vulnerable and poor households affected by Covid-19 pandemic and the agency was expected to intervene on basic social infrastructural micro-projects on education, health, erosion control, nutrition and water sanitation, based on Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach.

He called attention to the fact that the project implementation approach should target what the World Bank and its stakeholders call ‘Programme For Result’ (P4R) which means that the State would firstly fund the projects before a verification team would assess them before repayment will be done.

He added that for repayment to be done to the State and for other communities to also benefit in the nearest future, the projects must have been completed to time, functional and in use by the communities’ people.

Among the communities that benefited from the micro-project funding for the first quater of 2023 are Aroro Makinde community at Akinyele local government of Ibadan, Ideraoluwa community, Ibadan North-East local government, Ibadan, Abebi-Opo Yeosa – Ifesowapo community at Ibadan North-West local government of Ibadan and Kobomoje-Ogundepo-Ogundeji community at Ibadan South-East local government area of Ibadan.

Others are Olorunbawase-Oke Odo community at Ibarapa Central local government area, Igboora, Irewolede community at Ogbomoso South local government, Olorunsogo-Ifesowapo community at Ogbomoso South local government, Lagbedu-Orile community at Ogo-Oluwa local government, Lagun community at Lagelu local government, Alapata-Ope Odu-Oja Baale at Lagelu local government, Oremeji-Atolu community at Ona Ara local government, Irawo Parapo community at Atisbo local government, Oorelope community at Oorelope local government as well as Okan Awuru community at Saki East local government, Saki.

Signed:

Alhazan Abiodun R.

Project Public Relations Officer (PPRO),

Oyo State Community and Social Development Agency (OYCSDA),

Ibadan.