167 Fadama Groups Get N123m In Anambra

The Fadama III programme has disbursed N123 million to 167 groups in 58 communities in Anambra since 2009 when the programme began, Mr. Chudi Mojekwu, the state coordinator said.

Mojekwu gave the information in Awka, on Friday, at a capacity building workshop for vulnerable Fadama user groups and explained that 27 of the beneficiaries were vulnerable groups.

He said the vulnerable groups comprised women, widows, the physically challenged, people living with HIV and AIDS, the unemployed and elderly/sick persons.

The coordinator acknowledged the “responsiveness and faithfulness” of community associations in efforts by the state Fadama office to sensitise the people on the benefits of the programme.

He said that the success of the demand-driven development approach of Fadama projects was hinged on the payment of cash as counterpart contributions by beneficiaries.

Mojekwu, however, expressed regret that most of the participants in the workshop could not pay their counterpart contributions.

Declaring the workshop open, the wife of the state governor, Mrs. Margaret Obi, said the impact of Fadama projects should be felt by the weak, marginalised and vulnerable persons.

She commended the Ministries of Agriculture and Local Government Affairs for the achievements recorded so far in the programme, especially as they affected vulnerable persons.

She urged target groups to give maximum cooperation to Fadama officials and to make judicious use of the grants given to them.