The Commissioner for Economic Planning, Budget and Development
Partners, Mr. Mark Okoye says the state is already working hard to
improve on her Second best position in debt management, nationwide.

Mr. Okoye stated this in Awka during a stakeholders consultative Forum
on the 2021  annual budget.

The program which was powered by the Ministry of Economic Planning
attracted participants from the Civil Society Organization’s,
representatives from Anambra State Association of Town Unions,
Ministries and Development Partners among others.

Addressing the participants, Commissioner Okoye harped on the need to
diversify the state economy stressing the need for the state to focus
on strategic collaborations especially public-private partnerships
which he said has created over two hundred jobs in the state during
the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the state ranked second nationwide
in terms of debt management.

The Commissioner For Basic Education, Professor Kate Omenugha  while
giving an  over view on  basic things needed in the Education sector,
urged the Budget Planning Committee to channel its education funding
towards COVID -19 related issues with regards to infrastructure.

Professor Omenugha said that education funds should consider capacity
building and trainings for teachers ,toilet facilities, boreholes and
more classrooms even as she said that the Ministry is considering
creation of four to five model schools which would serve as template
for other schools in the state.

On his part, the Chairman, Anambra State Civil Society Network, Prince
Chris Azor commended the state for collaborating with civil societies,
stating that such synergy brings about efficiency in problem solving.

Also at the forum were the National Secretary, Anambra State
Association of Town Unions, Chief Nkala Iyke and Mrs. Josephine Onah
of ROLac who extolled the state government for giving everyone a voice
in its development agenda adding that this practice will yield great
benefits for the state.

NDUDU JOHN