Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, on Tuesday announced that the World Bank would soon embark on some legacy projects across the state worth about 500 million dollars.

The Governor stated this in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, while presenting cheques worth N180 million to 19 benefiting communities under the state’s self-help community development programme.

Tuesday’s presentation came barely six months after the state government doled out about N216 million to some communities for various self-help projects.

Governor Fayemi, at the presentation ceremony held at the Government House grounds, said his administration is determined to improve technical education by ensuring that all the technical colleges in the state are upgraded in its drive to improve skills development and education of the citizens.

The Governor said: “I’m also pleased to inform you that no fewer than five World Bank projects would be starting in the state across many of the local governments within the next few months and all of these would cost about $500 million.”

Dr Fayemi assured that his administration would continue to bring remarkable improvement to the living condition of the people through value restoration adding that the grassroots would continue to benefit from this agenda.

He said he would continue to collaborate with development partners to ensure that the people at the grassroots are not left out in the scheme of things.

“Today’s ceremony is one of the multiplier effects of the Ekiti State value restoration agenda of this administration, and we are poised to make similar meaningful impact in every stratum of our society. As a government that wants both urban and rural developments, we paid our own counterpart fund to activate this World Bank project geared towards improving the living condition of people at the grassroots.

“When you entrusted the management of Ekiti State’s commonwealth in our care, we promised and assured you all that your welfare and well-being will be of paramount interest to us. We are here today to strengthen the bond and deliver one of our promises,” he said.

While congratulating the benefitting communities, the governor enlightened them on the need to ensure judicious use of the money by following the World Bank standard, he advised all stakeholders in the project to carefully monitor the projects by ensuring its completion.

Dr Fayemi also admonished them “to make sure you use the money for the completion of the projects for the benefit of your people and follow the laid down rules and regulations of the World Bank so that other communities can benefit.” He added that “government will not hesitate to sanction any individual, group or community found wanting in the implementation of the selected and approved projects.”

The Governor however commended EKCSDA for its efforts towards actualising the desired goals of rural development and advised them to work assiduously to ensure the best for the state.

Earlier, the chairman of the agency, Dr Yemi Alatise, commended governor Fayemi for facilitating the World Bank’s support for developing the rural areas of the state through the various projects approved by World Bank. He further appreciated the cordial relationship between the governor and donor agencies which according to him has attracted a lot of developmental programme to the state.

Alatise said the agency scrutinised the various projects to ensure that they would boost the economy of the benefiting communities.

Responding on behalf of the 19 benefiting communities, Chief Gbenga Agbona from Ilawe Ekiti community appreciated the Governor for the gesture and promised that the communities would make judicious use of the fund.

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