Gov Doles Out N61m Cheques To C’River Communities

The Cross State Governor,
Prof. Ben Ayade has presented cheques worth about 61m Naira to about 46 Communities across the State.
In a colourful ceremony which took place at the Kolanut Event Centre in Calabar, Prof. Ayade maintained that the occasion was a further demonstration of government’s passion, sincerity of purpose and commitment to drastically reduce poverty and improve on the socio-economic lives of the people, especially those in the rural areas.
The Governor who  was  represented  by his  Deputy,  Prof. Ivara Ejemot Esu, restated Government’s  commitment  and  decision to  adopt the  community driven model  of development, using the  community and  social Development  Agency, as it is the  cheapest, effective  and  most efficient way of bringing development  to our people.
He stated further that the Agency is the  umbrella through which several people oriented  and  community- driven projects have been provided  to a broad  spectrum of rural communities  with  attendant sustainability, timely and qualitative project delivery because  of the  direct  involvement  of  community members in the  conception, identification and  final execution.
The Governor used the forum to inform that in spite of the very stringent conditions outlined by the World Bank, Cross River is the first to meet what he described as the effective condition to qualify for additional financing requirement adding that Cross River is the first to begin disbursement of grants to participating Communities out of the 27 other participating states in the  country.
Prof. Ayade reiterated his conviction that all Cross Riverians irrespective of where they live should have equal access to basic social services and infrastructural amenities, adding that “he will make bold  efforts to open up rural areas, provide decent levels of comfort and  improve socio economic life.

Friday Nwagbara, Calabar