By Uche Amunike
The Paramount ruler of Ukwalla community, HRH Igwe Joseph Ajodo (Egashi of Ukwalla) has commended the Anambra State Community and Social Development Agency (ANCSDA) for their vital intervention in reducing the outbreak of cholera through the release of project funds for the construction of borehole in the community.
Speaking recently at the Project Launch event for Ukwalla and Inoma communities under the Community and Social Development Project-Additional Financing (CSDP-AF) which took place at the Anambra West LG Headquarter hall at Umueze-Anam, the Egashi of Ukwalla revealed that Ukwalla community and its environs have been lacking portable water supply for its community members owing to the bad terrain of their environment and surrounding water bodies that pollute the underground water. He thanked the State Governor, HE, Chief Willie Maduaburochukwu Obiano for coming to assist the community in addressing the issue of lack of good drinking water through this fund release at the Project Launch under CSDP-AF for Construction of Borehole in Ukwalla community.
According to information from the Communication Officer ANCSDA, Mr Nnamdi Onuzulike, Ukwalla community has an approved Community Development Plan (CDP) containing two micro projects (MPs) namely construction of borehole, and construction/Installation of 12 Solar Street Lights while Inoma Community has an approved CDP containing two MPs namely renovation of 3 Blocks (14 Units each) open market stalls, and construction of borehole.
At the project launch event involving the two communities, the General Manager ANCSDA, Mr Chudi Mojekwu commended the Traditional Rulers, Town Union leaders, members of the Community Project Management Committee (CPMC) and the entire members of both communities present for the various roles they played during the socio-economic profiling of the community, participatory rural appraisal (PRA) to identify and prioritize the needs of the community and then the election of the CPMC members that were to oversee the implementation of the MPs. These efforts he said, culminated in the approval of the sets of micro projects and the subsequent release of the 1st tranche of funds (50% of project cost) by ANCSDA at the project launch event. The GM explained that owing to the bad terrain of the two communities occasioned by the rainy season, the state agency is releasing 50% of the project funds in the 1st tranche as against the usual 30% to reduce movement risks by the community through the bad roads and/or flooded river during the project implementation and to hasten the project completion. The Operations Manager ANCSDA, Mrs Uche Nwaizugbo charged the CPMC members to ensure that their community contribution is included in the project implementation and also urged them for judicious use of the project funds as approved.
In his remarks, the Chairman of ANCSDA Board and Traditional ruler of Nteje community, HRM Igwe Rowland Odegbo (Aborgu II Na Nteje) advised the CPMC members to work in harmony with their town leaders and community members in ensuring that their project implementation become successful as expected. High point of the occasion was the handing over of the cheques (50% of project costs) to each of the respective CPMC Chairmen of Ukwalla and Inoma communities as contained in their approved CDP by HRH Igwe Odegbo and signing of the Financing Agreement between the State Agency and the community.
In their various votes of thanks, the two CPMC Chairmen of Ukwalla and Inoma communities, Mr Joseph Omachonu and Prince Ollottah Godspower respectively thanked the state agency for approving and releasing the funds for their projects implementation and promised to ensure that the funds were efficiently and effectively utilized for the projects as approved.
