SDGs commissions N1.2bn projects in Ekiti

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a United Nations-financed programme in partnership with the federal and state governments on Thursday commissioned projects worth N1.2 billion in Ekiti state.

The facilities, spread across the three senatorial districts of the state, concentrated on education, health and agriculture sectors, under which schools and hospitals were built, renovated and supports given to farmers to sustain food production in the state.

Some of the local governments that benefited from the scheme included: Ado, Ikere, Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ise/Orun, Ikole and Ilejemeje .

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, while commissioning the projects, said a sum of N18 million was expended to fortify various agro-based cooperatives in the state to boost food production and reduce hunger.

Adefuliru who was represented by a leader of the SDGs in Ekiti state, Mr. Urombo Uche-Iwaje, appealed to rural dwellers to take ownership of the projects to prevent vandalism and underutilization of the facilities.

Adefulire said the federal government, under President Muhammadu Buhari, won’t take partisan interest in the execution of projects under SDGs, saying that what the administration intended to do is to synergise with the states of the federation to spread the dividends of democracy to the populace.

“This programme is not about who is in power but is about what government can do. We are not going to discriminate based on political inclinations. What we wanted is collaborations from all the states of the federation to make the scheme a success.

“Let me say this, if you fail to take ownership of these projects, vandals will take charge and the facilities will depreciate. So, you have to be vigilant and observant to save these facilities from destruction”, he said.

Also, the Chairman, State Implementation Committee, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Ekiti and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Dipo Anisulowo, urged the local governments to partner with private organizations to be able to maintain the facilities.

Anisulowo, who was represented by the MDGs’ Coordinator in Ekiti, Mr. Francis Adunmo, disclosed that no efforts will be spared to ensure that all the facilities are given adequate protections, especially against vandalism.