By Mike Adeyemi
A team from the World Bank in collaboration with the Federal Project Support Unit (FPSU) have carried out a post review and audit of Community Development Plan (CDPs), in Kwara State.
The four-day exercise covered projects that were approved by the World Bank within the period of 2016 and 2018.
These were contained in a statement signed by Mr. Demola Olarewaju, the Project Officer, Information, Education, Communication and Training of the Kwarans State Community and Social Development Agency (KWCSDA), and made available to Pilot Business at the weekend.
According to the statement, the World Bank Consultant, Dr Abimbola Adepoju who led the team during a courtesy visit to the state Permanent Secretary for Planning and Economic Development, Alhaji Abdulazeez Tayo Oyelowo, gave insight into mission of the team in the state.
Adepoju, the statement said, gave kudos to the state government for its support for grassroots development.
“Earlier, the permanent secretary, commended the state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfattah Ahmed for his passion for rural development through KWCSDP, describing its contribution to community development as tremendous.
“Oyelowo said the exercise is a welcome development, which signifies that KWCSDA is performing creditably and has achieved the formulation of 56 Community Development Plans (CDPs), since Additional Financing (AD) in 2016.
“The Permanent Secretary, who seized the opportunity to disclose that the Agency Governing Board has been appointed and will soon be inaugurated, assured the team that the approved counterpart fund will be cash backed soon,” the statement further said.
It added that the Acting General Manager, Kwara State Community and Social Development Agency, Alhaji Yahaya Ahmed in his remarks, informed the Permanent Secretary that the purpose of the World Bank and FPSU’s scheduled visit to the agency is to review CSDP activities, especially Community Development Plan (CDPs), so as to ascertain proper and effective documentation.
“While welcoming the team, Alhaji Ahmed thanked His Excellency, Alhaji Abdulfatah-led administration and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, Alhaji Tayo Oyelowo, for their efforts at ensuring the progress and sustainability of CSDP in Kwara State.”
The statement added that a Procurement Specialist, Alhaji Yusuf Abubakar, represented the National Coordinator of CSDP Nigeria, Dr Abdulkareem Obaje on the team.
