By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
Worried by widespread poverty among vulnerable people in Akwa Ibom, the Africa Human Development Centre (AHDC) in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria, have intervened in 14 communities spread across four Local Government Areas of the State.
Speaking at the impact assessment forum in Uyo, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AHDC, Prof. Gabriel Umoh, identified major areas of intervention to include basic education, primary healthcare, women rights and responsible governance.
Commending ActionAid for funding the programmes in the last 14 years, Umoh, a Professor of Agricultural and Development Economics at the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), explained that the intervention has gone a long way to addressing myriads of social issues confronting the local residents, but lamented that “a lot still needed to be done to effectively address the challenges”.
He listed the four benefitting LGAs to include Etinan, Oruk Anam, Itu and Mkpat Enin and appealed for more support to improve the local rights programs including access to education by the very poor, quality health care, consistent advocacies and women empowerment.
As ActionAid is set to conclude its rural development programmes in the state next year, Umoh, harped on the need for the local intervention projects in education, health and vocational schemes to be sustained as “most of the facilities including town halls, water projects and vocational training facilities have started wearing off due to lack of proper maintenance”.
“Let me thank ActionAid for their intervention to address the challenges of the rural dwellers especial in the areas of women rights, healthcare, education and good governance advocacies in 14 communities in four Local Government Areas in the last 14 years.
“Their commitment in partnering with us at AHDC has gone a long way in tackling the problems of out-of-school children, access to healthcare, vocational training for women especially widows and the vulnerable people in rural areas.
“The programme would have covered more areas but for limited funding and that is why we implored the local action committees to work towards sustaining the programme in the affected communities as ActionAid concludes its intervention projects in the state and is getting set to move to Cross River state in continuation of the exercise.” Umoh said.
The Manager, Local Rights Programme (LRP) at ActionAid and Mr. Chidi Agbaraji, who reviewed the activities of the organization in Akwa Ibom in the last 14 years, stressed the need for effective collaboration with stakeholders including the media, government agencies for effective advocacies against some poverty challenges in the rural communities.
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