The Federal Project Support Unit (FPSU) of the World Bank Assisted Community and Social Development Project has approved Akwa Ibom State as the host for its 2019 First Quarter Review meeting.
The General Manager, Akwa Ibom State Agency for Community and Social Development Project (Ak-CSDP) Mr Ishmael Akpan made this known during a press briefing with journalists in uyo on Friday.
Mr Akpan who disclosed that the review meeting would commence on the 29th of April -4th of May 2019, added that Akwa Ibom State was chosen as the host community based on the overall quality of projects implemented to help enhance the living standard of the poor and vulnerable ones in rural communities.
According to him, the review meeting is assemblage of about 200 delegates drawn from the 30 participating states and federal capitals territory(FCT).
“Akwa Ibom State Agency for Community and Social Development is one of the leading state agencies implementing Community Social Development Project (CSDP) in Nigeria and its scorecard is indeed one of the best in terms of extending support to poor communities and highly overall quality of project implementation.
“It is in recognition of this and to avail other states agencies opportunity to learn from the experience of the Akwa Ibom State Community and Social Development Agency that the state has been selected as the host state.
“The purpose of the meeting is to discuss Community and Social Development Project achievement and implementation challenges of the first quarter of 2019 and learn from the best practices of the participating states.
“His Excellency, Mr Udom Emmanuel, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State has been requested to graciously declare the meeting open on Monday 29th April, 2019 at Le Meridian Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort by 10.00am.
“The participants would also visit benefiting communities for thorough appraisal of the micro projects carried out by them as well as ascertain the extent of participation in the implementation by the community people, The participants would also assess the impact of the completed micro projects on the wellbeing of the Akwa Ibom people, particularly the poor and vulnerable”. He said
He further hinted that World Bank in collaboration with the State government has facilitated the completion of 171 micro projects in 22 local government areas of the state, adding that 56 micro projects are on-going while 41 are yet to commence.
Mr Akpan commended World Bank and the state government for financially assisting the less privileged in the state through life touching projects.
Micro projects completed so far includes health centres, school buildings, motorized borehole, rural electrification, civic centre, rural market, viewing centre , culvert and drainage, among others.
