…Residents, traditional rulers commend Mbah’s rural development drive
The Enugu State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) has taken its community sensitisation and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) exercises to six communities in Nkanu West Local Government Area, with residents and traditional rulers commending Governor Peter Mbah’s administration for its focus on grassroots development.
The exercise, led by the General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of CSDA, Monday Diamond Ani, is aimed at identifying and documenting beneficiary communities while enabling residents to participate directly in identifying and prioritising their development needs.
As part of the exercise, elections and inaugurations of Community Project Management Committees (CPMCs) were conducted in the newly identified communities.
The CSDA team visited Enuagu Amurri, Omuoha Obuoffia, Enuagu Akpugo, Eziokwe Amurri, Umueze Awkunanaw and Ndiagu Obuoffia.
At Enuagu Amurri, the traditional ruler, His Royal Highness, Igwe Charles Nwoye, Obu Oha 1 of Amurri Ancient Kingdom, received the team and commended CSDA’s community-driven approach to rural development.
Nwoye also expressed appreciation to the state government for its attention to grassroots development.
At Omuoha Obuoffia, the team was received by His Royal Majesty, Igwe Obiora Igwesi, the traditional ruler of the community; Rt. Hon. USA Igwesi, a former member of the House of Representatives; the President General, Chidi Ugwu; alongside other residents.
Igwesi said the community had maintained a cooperative relationship with CSDA over the years, noting that the Agency’s interventions in the area predated the current exercise.
The traditional ruler of Umueze Community, HRM Igwe Dr. Emeka Ani, also expressed appreciation to Governor Mbah for what he described as his administration’s performance and for including the community in its development efforts.
Similarly, His Royal Highness, Igwe Ikechukwu Nnaji of Enuagu Akpugo, thanked the governor for bringing a water project to the community after, according to him, almost 30 years of waiting for government intervention.
Speaking during the exercise, Ani said the programme would also create opportunities for beneficiaries to receive livelihood support for micro-businesses.
He said Governor Mbah was committed to rural development and prompt intervention in communities, particularly through projects identified by residents as their most pressing needs under Phase 2.0 of the NG-CARES programme.
Ani urged members of the CPMC to remain transparent, committed and accountable in managing the responsibilities entrusted to them by their communities.
He said sustainable community development requires people genuinely committed to humanitarian service and concerned about the welfare of vulnerable members of society.
The CSDA’s community sensitisation and PRA exercise is part of its broader effort to ensure that communities participate actively in determining the projects and interventions that address their most pressing developmental needs.