Governor Willie Obiano has called on governors of the Southeast and South South to intensify efforts towards effectively implementation of the programs of the World Bank for the overall good of the people.
Governor Obiano made the call during a dinner organized by the State Government for the World Bank Team and other participants at the Country Program Portfolio Review exercise held in Awka.
After a two-day intensive program that reviewed World Bank assisted projects in the Southeast and SouthSouth, Governor Obiano treated the participants to dinner.
The evening also provided the opportunity for the World Bank team to interact on a lighter mood, with Heads of line Ministries in the State where the Bank is intervening, on other issues which the review did not capture.
The guests were also exposed to the hospitality and rich cultural heritage which Anambra State is known for, as the State Cultural troupe performed to their delight.
Governor Obiano in his remarks, said it is rather appalling that the Bank has about four hundred and forty million US dollars undisbursed for the Southeast and SouthSouth due to the inability of some governments to meet the minimum requirements to draw the funds.
He maintained that the State under his leadership was able to emerge as the best performing in implementation of World Bank programmes because of the strategies and coordination which his government has put in place and commended his team for the excellent performance.
The governor said his government will take the discussions at the meeting to strengthen its capacity towards development of agencies partnerships.
The World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mr Rachid Benmessoud observed that the two-day review activity reflected governments eagerness to engender a paradigm shift from the way things were done before and commended Governor Willie Obiano for providing quality leadership that has made partnership with the state, seamless.
He also revealed that they had toured the various erosion sites in the State and seen the massive devastation wrecked by the disaster, promising that the World Bank will assist the State intervene in more erosion sites.
The Minister of Finance, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed represented by Mrs Uzo Okoye said the Federal Ministry will avail the states every technical assistance required to achieve appreciable level of disbursement for the projects.
The State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Budget and Development Partners, Mr Mark Okoye said participating states during the review exercise resolved to increase portfolio coordination to align World Bank programmes with the state’s development plans, intensify peer learning strategies, increase stakeholders’ ownership of the projects as well as to evolve strategies to sustain disbursements despite the inevitable change of governments.
As is customary for hosts to fete their guests, Governor Obiano at the dinner, personally took the guests to the buffet where he served them.
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