The Lumine News

Tag: #Fidel Udie

  • #EndSARS Destruction: Cross River Gov’t Attracts World Bank support

    #EndSARS Destruction: Cross River Gov’t Attracts World Bank support

    By Admin

    The Cross River State Government has received support from the World Bank after the destruction of properties during the #EndSars protest  by hoodlums that took place in Calabar on Oct. 23 and 24.

    After the destruction, the state government through the Ministry of International Development Cooperation had approached the World Bank to render support to the state, especially in the delivery units of the World Bank Assisted Programme, CARES, which is scheduled to commence very soon in the state.

    The items donated include furniture, 20 seater conference chairs, air conditioners and inverters, laptop computers and printers, virtual meeting equipment, hybrid inverter with solar among many others.

    Speaking after distributing the equipment to the different units, the Commissioner for MIDC, Dr Inyang Asibong, expressed happiness with the gesture from the World Bank, saying that the distribution was coming at the first day of resumption of duties in the year.

    She explained that two result areas of the Ministry, FADAMA and EDF were badly affected during the protest and all the items were destroyed by hoodlums.

    According to her, the items will go a long way to enable the staff of the result areas to get back to work in preparation for the CARES programme.

    “The CARES is COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus of the government. It is going to be a state owned project and Gov. Ben Ayade is so committed about improving the lives of residents in the state.

    “We know that the poverty index in Nigeria is 40.1, and this is really high. Cross River is lower than the national average, 36.3, we want to further reduce that our percentage to at least a single digit.

    “I want to thank the World Bank for coming to our aid at this point in time, and we can assure them we will make the best use of these equipment,” she said.

    Also Speaking, Mr Fidel Udie, the Acting General Manager of Community and Social Development Agency, said that the donation confirms the good working relationship between the state government and the World Bank.

    Udie said that the donation will now put the state in a good position to participate in the CARES programme, which is a World Bank Assisted Programme.

    “These programme is basically meant to target the poor and vulnerable in the society. Of course, without these agencies and their platforms been able to have their working tools and be ready for the implementation of the programme, the state cannot join other states for the programme.

    “Gov. Ayade was able to follow up with the World Bank and here we have these equipment to help the delivery units to be ready for this programme,” he said.

    He mentioned the platforms benefiting from the equipment to include; CSDA, the state coordinating unit, FADAMA, Enterprise Development Funding, Smart City, Public Work Fare and the state Cash Transfer Unit.

  • Micro Projects: CSDA Intervenes In 350 Communities Of Cross River State

    Micro Projects: CSDA Intervenes In 350 Communities Of Cross River State

    No fewer than 350 Communities across the 18 Local Government Areas of Cross River state have benefitted from the State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) Projects.

    The Cross River State Government, World Bank Assisted project is a Community Driven Development (CDD) and intervention mechanism designed for improving empowerment, service delivery and local governance through empowerment of people in the local communities.

    Speaking during a post completion and Project sustainability workshop organised by the Agency in Calabar, the Commissioner for International Development Corporation, Dr Inyang Asibong said that over 900 community projects in all the 18 local government areas have been executed.

    According to Asibong, the Agency has empowered more citizens at the local government levels, with improved service delivery, accountability, transparency and effective communication in the last five years of Governor Ben Ayade’s administration more than ever.

    The commissioner while encouraging the beneficiaries to sustain the assets created in their various communities, warned that Government will not provide further support to any community who fails to maintain and sustain previous projects in their domain, including health centres, boreholes and classroom blocks.

    The Board Chairman of the Agency, Sir Toni Ikpeme commended the communities for implementing thier projects according to standards and specifications. He encouraged them to apply community level strategies to maintain and sustain the assets.

    Also Speaking at the event, the Acting General Manager of the Agency, Mr Fidel Udie commended Governor Ayade for funding the Agency to provide support to Communities especially in the height of the COVID 19 pandemic.

    The workshop had relevant line MDAs in attendance, with beneficiaries from several communities where issues of home grown sustainability strategies were discussed, such that benefits can be guaranteed over a long period.

  • CRS-CSDA HOLDS BOARD AND MANAGEMENT RETREAT: SENSITIZE NEW BOARD ON ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

    CRS-CSDA HOLDS BOARD AND MANAGEMENT RETREAT: SENSITIZE NEW BOARD ON ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    Cross River State Community and Social Development Agency has organized a 3 day retreat for its newly inaugurated Board.

    The retreat which provided a first leg sensitization of the new board members on the operations of the Agency was declared open by the Hon. Commissioner for MIDC, Dr Inyang Asibong on behalf of the digital Gov. His Excellency, Sir Ben Ayade. Speaking at the event, Dr Asibong charged the new Board to sustain the gains recorded by the Agency noting that the CSDP as a project is “government best foot forward” so far as development project in partnership with donors was concern.

    The attendance of the National Coordinator of the CSDP, Dr Abdulkarim Obaje who as ably represented by the immediate past General Manager of the Agency, Pastor Victor Ovat broaden the Boards opportunities to get deeper understanding about their roles and responsibilities. In this regard, Pst. Ovat made a presentation that sensitized participants on their specific roles and responsibilities as stipulated in the law guiding the operations of the Agency.

    Speaking earlier, the Ag. General Manager of the Agency Mr Fidel Udie noted that the retreat became imperative following the need to sensitise the new Board and bring them up to speed with development in the Agency especially as regard processes, achievements and emerging challenges.

    The Board chairman Mr Toni Ikpeme who was visibly happy with the content development of the entire exercise noted on behalf of the new board that the “Board is a reinvigorated board with determination and commitment to sustain the gains recorded in the past”. He thanked the Gov, His Excellency Sir Ben Ayade for their appointment and further noted that the retreat has broaden their understanding of the operations of the Agency, promising a cordial working relationship with Management with the view of sustaining the gains of the Project for the state.

    The highly engaging retreat had in attendance the 17 Board members comprising Permanent Secretaries from line Ministries and Civil Society Orgainization and the Project Management Committee of the Agency.

  • Ayade Inaugurates CSDA Board Charges Them To Improve Human Development Index

    Ayade Inaugurates CSDA Board Charges Them To Improve Human Development Index

    By Admin

    His Excellency, Sen. (Prof.) Ben Ayade, the Executive Governor of Cross River State, today inaugurated a 17-member committee of the Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) Board to further improve on the Human Development Index and Gross Domestic Product of the State.

    The Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Dr. Inyang Asibong, who inaugurated the committee on behalf of His Excellency goaded the members to carry on with the mandate of this administration in ensuring a trickle down of development across the State.

    “The World Bank has commended the Cross River State Government led by His Excellency, Sen. (Prof.) Ben Ayade, for the CSDA initiative as it is the best way to bring development across the State, especially in the hinterlands.

    “So far we’ve carried out well over 30 (Thirty) micro-projects across the State this year ranging from potable water supply, to solar-powered LED street lights, lavatories to cub open defecation, renovation of classroom blocks and employment of youths and vulnerable people within our communities”

    The board is Chaired by Chief Toni Joe Ikpeme, with the Secretary being the Acting GM of the Agency, Mr Fidel Udie, thanked the State Government for the opportunity to serve and promised to give their best in the discharge of their duties collectively.

    The board also has four non- statutory members, the Permanent Secretaries from the ministries of Finance, Works, Women Affairs, Local Government Affairs, Social Welfare and Humanity, International Development Cooperation, and the State Planning Commission, and four representatives from Civil Society Organizations.

  • CRSG Releases 14M For 6 Micro Projects In Two Communities In Calabar Under CSDP

    CRSG Releases 14M For 6 Micro Projects In Two Communities In Calabar Under CSDP

    By Admin

    The Cross State Government has approved and released the sum of Fourteen million naira for the immediate commencement of 6 micro projects across two communities in Calabar South. The Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) has handed over the funds as approved by the Governor, Sen. (Prof.) Ben Ayade, to support the multi sectoral micro projects recently approved for the two communities to also aid the communities fight the coronavirus pandemic.

    Speaking at the cash disbursement activity for projects, the Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Dr. Inyang Asibong, said the release of funds is a highpoint in the CSDP cycle after completing the rigorous process of appraisal and capacity building that qualifies every community to access funds.

    The project is sequel to requests by the benefitting communities for support by the Government in areas of Electricity and Potable Water Supply to boost development. The projects include integrated LED street light system, concrete electricity pole erection and borehole with transformers to power the communities, she continued.

    Whilst acknowledging the State Governor for paying the needed counterpart fund which is a requisite for World Bank’s support, she charged the beneficiary communities to ensure prompt implementation of these projects with emphasis on global best practices, as she concluded.

    The  Chairman of the CSDP Board, Mr. Tony Ikpeme, encouraged the communities to continue to make wise use of disbursed funds as the Governor Ayade-led administration will not rest in its oars to bring development to the length and breadth of the State.

    On his part, the Ag. General Manager of the State Community and Social Development Agency, Mr. Fidel Udie appealed to the benefiting communities to carry out continuous supportive supervision of the project until it is completed, as this will attract more projects to the community and other communities. Others present at the event were HRH Etubom Efio Ita Effiom and Etinyin Ewa for Eyo Ita/ Edibe-Edibe community, while Chief Eyo Effiom Henshaw, Chief Bassey Ekeng Maurice Effanga represented the Ansa-Ewa community.

    The  event was well attended by relevant stakeholders who observed social distancing and other precautionary measures as directed by the State Government.