Anambra State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Development Programme, on key development areas in the state.
The ceremony was performed at the Government House, Awka where Governor Chukwuma Soludo signed on behalf of the state government, while the leader of the United Nations Development Programme team representing the President Mr Mohammed Yahaya signed on behalf of the group.
Speaking before the signing ceremony, Governor Soludo expressed gratitude to the United Nations Development Programme which he described as the state’s major development partner.
He stressed that the partnership is imperative because of what he described as a binding resource scarcity, adding that Anambra runs an open society concept where everyone has some contributions to make.
Giving a background to the ceremony, the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu recalled how the Governor met with development partners long before he was sworn in into office.
In a remark the representative of the United Nations Development Programme President Mr Yahaya spoke on the Governor’s vision for the state, stressing that United Nations Development Programme usually tries to focus on places where they feel that their vision is strong, requesting to be part of the state Solution team.
While expressing their willingness to support the current administration’s vision on revenue generation and innovation, he noted that United Nations Development Programme has the competence and pointed out that the state has suffered from climate change, erosion and among others adding that they are already engaging around the vision to ensure mitigation of environmental challenges.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of Anambra State Truth Justice and Peace Commission Professor Chidi Odinkalu who joined virtually thanked UNDP for the support given to the State in the search for a path to a liveable homeland, and stressed that the Truth, Justice and Peace Commission handed over their Inception report in February, 2023 with initial diagnosis, mapping of major themes and institutional recommendations.
He added that in the next phase, they will hopefully commence public hearings as they had issued notices to Communities in the state, exploring a number of issue clusters.
The Speaker Anambra State House of Assembly, Right Honorable Uche Okafor, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, members of Anambra State Executive Council, Secretary of the Truth, Justice and Peace Commission, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, among others, were present at the event which also featured the official opening of United Nations Development Programme office in Awka.
The Memorandum of Understanding has a five-year life span with the option to be extended for another five years.
It covers different areas in the state development initiatives including youth agenda, inclusive growth, among others.
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