A sensitisation workshop has been organised by Anambra State Government to brainstorm on how to recover and build back the economic losses caused by the Coronavirus pandemic for the vulnerable households in the state.
The programme was organised by the Ministry of Economy Planning, Budget and Development Partners, in collaboration with Anambra COVID-19 Action Recovery Economic Stimulus (CARES) Programme.
The programme, a World Bank assisted Project, is a short-term response aimed at cushioning the economic effects of COVID-19 pandemic, and was designed to support budgeted government interventions at the state level to help vulnerable households across the country.
Declaring the workshop open, the State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Budget and Development Partners and the Chairman of the Recovery Committee, Mr. Mark Okoye, commended Governor Willie Obiano for positioning the state to benefit from the program targeting the existing and newly vulnerable and poor households, agricultural value chains, micro and small enterprises (MSEs) affected by the economic crisis in all the 181 communities of the state.
Mr. Okoye listed the terms of reference to include, provision of overall strategic and policy guidance for the implementation of the program, reviewing operation performance annually
He noted that the program would focus more on Health, Education, Water and Nutrition for the less privileged, and also commended the World bank, CARES National Secretariat and other relevant stakeholders for working together for the success of the program.
In his lecture, the Anambra State FADAMA Project Coordinator, Mr. Patrick Chukwuka Egbueh, posited that the state has always maintained high level of integrity and transparency, calling on them to live up to expectations.
He maintained that the program is mainly for the poor agrarian communities and has no political affiliations as speculated.
On his part, the Managing Director, Anambra Community and Social Development Agency, Mr. Chudi Mojekwu, also praised the government for the program, and urged all stakeholders to work towards achieving the set goals.
Contributing, the Managing Director, Anambra State Small Business Agency, Mr. Clement Chukwuka, appealed for the support of traditional rulers and Presidents General of communities to help in identifying beneficiaries.
In their separate remarks, the World bank Task Team Leader (Nigeria), Professor Folusu Okunmalewa and Deputy Focal Person of CARES, Mrs. Ogorchukwu Orji, via visual, said the programme will expand access to livelihood, support, provide food security and grants for poor and vulnerable households in society.
They commended Obiano, for being the first governor in Nigeria to key into the programme.
RPT/Mike/Monic.
[21/11, 5:08 pm] Monic Okechukwu: Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation has charged Ministries, Parastatals and Agencies to be more proactive to achieve a realistic budget.
The Chairman of the Committee, Honourable Obinna Emeneka, made the call at the end of the bilateral interaction on the 2021 Appropriation bill by the State House of Assembly with Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Awka.
Chief Emeneka expressed delight at the success of the exercise, noted that it provided which he observed, provided opportunity for MDAS to defend budgets, and also explain what they intend to spend in the coming year.
Earlier, while defending her ministry’s budget, the Commissioner for Youth Empowerment and Creative Economy, Professor Theresa Obiekezie, expressed commitment towards empowering thousands of youths in various vocations of their choice in 2021.
She also disclosed that her ministry will support thousands of youths that have been trained with loans in order to establish their own businesses and become entrepreneurs.
