THE World Bank last week in Abuja announced that it has been engaged in various developmental projects in Ekiti State valued at over $60 million (about N9 billion). The projects are being financed through the International Development Association (IDA) window, the concessional lending arm of the World Bank Group.
The bank is also currently making preparations for a new programme on education sector support valued at about $60 million (about N9 billion). Professor Foluso Okunmadewa, World Bank acting country director, made the disclosure while briefing Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the new Ekiti state Governor, on the activities of the bank in the state.
Fayemi was at the bank to verify the projects and the financial commitments of the World Bank in the state and to solicit it to buy into the agenda of the new administration. Okunmadewa said the projects include Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) focusing on grass-root social development with the communities as very active drivers of the project; Fadama focusing on economic empowerment of rural farmers; health service delivery project focusing on improved health service delivery.
Others include state governance project with emphasis on improved and efficient governance, institutional strengthening and public expenditure management and International Development Fund special grant on the procurement reform and due process activities.
Okunmadewa enumerated that as a result of the partnership with the state in the last few years, the bank has contributed significantly to changes in the health service provision through construction and renovation of health facilities including drugs and training of personnel.
Also, it improved household water supply and utilization through the community driven micro water projects in several villages and towns; improved literacy in well over 100 communities through the rehabilitation of education facilities in the state; and improved procurement and due process office functionality through the IDF grant and governance system renewal. “Like in many other states in the federation, the support and partnership with the World Bank has lead to sizeable and significant results on the ground that is acknowledged by all stakeholders,” he said. “The emphasis of the World Bank is on results that lead to eradication of poverty and promotion of growth.”
Earlier, Fayemi said his administration would appreciate it if the bank could scale up its operations in education, Fadama and other sectors of the economy to improve the socio-economic wellbeing of the people of the state.
He assured that his administration will run the least expensive government adding that “we have the vision of cutting costs of administration in the state.
“If we engage technology, we will be able to remove ghost workers and move the resources saved to build our infrastructure, improve our education system, among others.
According to the governor, “we are working on free education for primary and secondary school children, qualitative teacher education, free medical care to all children under five years and pregnant women. He stated that the new administration in the sate has a very clear agenda and pleaded with the bank to buy into the developmental agenda.