From Left: Founder, Nanet Hotels, Chief Nancy Akpabio, Author of Hospitality Management Practices in Nigeria, Mr Ini Akpabio, Representative of the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Dr Paul Adalikwu, Commissioner, Federal Character Commission, Chief Margaret Icheen, Co-author of the book, Mr Denis Orjime and a Fct High Court Judge, Justice Folasade Ojo, at the official launch of Hospitality Management Practices in Nigeria in Abuja last Thursday. Photo: NAN

Following the poor state of projects executed under the Egi Clan/Total Development Partnership, the President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) Engr. Emeka Unachukwu, has called for project monitoring and Evaluation in the implementation of any programmes under the partnership.
He said this during a retreat held in Port Harcourt and organised by the Steering Committee of Egi Clan/Total development partnership agreement.
Unachukwu said the programme could serve as a tool for achieving the objective of the project and programmes embarked upon by the Steering Committee.
The PHCCIMA President urged the multi-national oil companies operating in the communities to ensure adoption of a monitoring and Evaluation system as a way of assuring the people on the impact of community projects and programmes, to ensure quality assurance and sustainability.
Unachikwu said as partners in progress, the committee should ensure that Monitoring and Evaluation form the basic parts of its policy, in order to support their programmes/projects in the community and also to attract high level of entrepreneurship, good quality skill base, industries, agricultural, aqua cultural and structural growth in the area.
He defined monitoring as a routine, collection, and analysis of information to track progress against set plans and check compliance to established standards.
He noted that monitoring and evaluation contribute to organisational learning and knowledge-sharing upholds accountability and compliance, adding also that it provides opportunities for Stakeholders Feedback, guarantees long-term positive impact, that will justify money spent in investment made and finally promote and celebrate work.
Unachukwu decried the state of some of the projects executed in the community under the Egi Clan/Total development partnership agreement, describing them as flawed.
He called for a review that will engender projects and programmes with globally accepted standard, one that will identify core focus to ensure that the aims and objectives for embarking on the projects are met.
In his remark, the President of Egi Peoples Assembly, Chief Oris Onyiri faulted the state of projects and programmes in the community, harping on a new spirit that will see action in the right direction for implementation of projects/programmes in the community.
Onyiri disclosed that time lost can never be regained, hence the need to build confidence and trust in the implementation of Egi Clan/Total Development Partnership Agreement.
Expressing that with clear thinking, clear objectives, realistic budgets and practical actions taken, success can be attained.

Chikwere Uzoigwe