WRITTEN BY KENECHUKWU OFOMAH
The efforts of the present administration at garnering the necessary partnership towards the development of the state today registered a major

boost with the hosting of the first ever Anambra Development Partners Summit.
The Summit took place at the Governor’s Lodge Amawbia.

The Summit organized by the State Government through the Ministry of Economic Planning, Budget and Development Partners, has as its theme “strengthening partnerships to attain Sustainable Development Goals before 2030” and attracted all Heads of United Nations Agencies and other Development Partners in the Country, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Hajya Zainab Ahmad, former Governor, Dame Virgie Etiaba, community and religious leaders, representatives of civil society organizations and inter-ministerial agencies among others.

Welcoming participants to the Summit, Governor Willie Obiano said a unique attribute of his administration is its strategy of anchoring its developmental efforts essentially on building critical partnerships and extracting maximum values from them.

This he noted, is because of his understanding that there are no faster routes to development than collaboration especially since government’s resources are now dwindling.

While sharing his success story over the past three years in the state saddle, Governor Obiano reiterated the determination of his administration to build a new world of endless possibilities for Ndi Anambra by the time it must have served out its 8-year term.

 

Thanking the development partners for their support to the state over the years, Governor Obiano urged them to do more for the state.

The Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator of UN systems in Nigeria, Mr Edward Kallon pointed out that the development blueprint of the state government and the numerous policies it has developed, has the necessary ingredients that will encourage ownership of the development process by the people, saying that it is testament to the Governor’s commitment to driving the development of the state through the necessary partnerships.

The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Hajya Ahmad who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Budget Matters, Dr Ben Akabueze while noting that despite the exponential growth in the country’s economy over the years, poverty was still on the rise because the growth was not inclusive, said initiative of the summit is a bold step towards achieving inclusive growth and the Federal Ministry will fully support her.

In a goodwill message, the Senior Special Assistant to the president on SDGs and former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Princess Adejoke Adefulire emphasized that SDGs are people driven unlike the MDGs and said through the summit, Anambra under the Obiano administration is mainstreaming the SDGs in the State’s development planning processes.

Earlier, the State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Budget and Development Partners, Mr Mark Okoye explained that Summit and its theme were designed to avail key actors and partners in the state development the opportunity to explore viable options that will promote sustainable and inclusive growth in the state.

The summit also featured plenary and interactive sessions by discussants and participants on the practicability of the SDGs and the need for the necessary framework that will guarantee its effective implementation to be put in place.

No related posts.