The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has released a grant of N200,000,000 for the development of over 600 Community Development Councils and Community Development Associations in the 20 local governments of the state.
The governor announced the money on Wednesday during the annual celebration of World Community Day 2022 and World Trade Day in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Presenting a check of N500,000 to each CDA, Abiodun noted that the fund was over and above the initial N100,000 spent during the previous administration.
The governor also disclosed that he has approved up to N500, 000, 000 as funds for outstanding projects in the various communities of the state.
Abiodun announced that his administration has approved the sum of N500 million to cater to the Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the state.
He emphasized that the gesture aims to speed up public/private sector cooperation, and said that it is working.
He said: “I have approved an increase in grants from N500,000 to N5 million to fast-track this partnership which has been confirmed to be working. Under this new grant, the minimum that the community and various associations will take home is N500,000. These funds they are for community projects.
“I have also approved up to N5 billion for grants for really outstanding projects.
“These are our contributions to support community efforts and applaud their initiatives to ensure that communities get the small infrastructure they want and in the long run, our communities will be livable, safe and secure.
“For our trade and artisan group, I have directed that a revolving loan of N500 million be established to meet the much needed financial support for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises. This scheme will be launched before the end of the year.”
The Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperatives, Abayomi Hunye, said Abiodun commended the gesture.
Hunye said, “The development of any state rests with the community. Without the community, we cannot do anything and the governor said he was very critical in the decision-making of the state. If someone sees fit to give five million naira to a community, that means he has considered them.
Abayomi stated that the state government will monitor all the communities to ensure that the funds are properly spent.
He said: “The state government has kindly given over 200 million. In the interim, we will monitor it to make sure it is up to standard and every year the community will audit its records, if anything like this happens in any community, it will come to us and the community will not get any money again.
