The Anambra State
government has been rewarded with $750,000 (N120 million) by the
European Union and UNICEF in recognition of its performance in
EU/UNICEF joint projects.
The state
commissioner for budget and economic planning, Chinyere Okunna, who is
also the authoring officer for EU/UNICEF programme, said yesterday in
Awka at a contract signing ceremony, that Anambra was one of two other
states (Cross River and Jigawa) that won the award, adding that she
would be attending a study tour on good governance in Uganda on behalf
of the state government on account of that recognition.
She said the
EU/UNICEF fund which was matched by the state government would be used
in providing 50 schools with water, solar-powered energy to pump the
water and other facilities on hygiene.
She said the contractors must finish the projects not later than June this year or they would not be paid.
Mrs Okunna also noted that at the completion of the projects about 34,000 students would benefit from clean water.
In his speech the
state governor, Peter Obi, said the vision of his administration was
the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015
through the Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS).
He reminded the
contractors on the need to finish the projects as scheduled so the
state could get more. He said all schools with a population of up to
200 would have water, library and other amenities and charged
principals to take ownership of the projects in their schools.
The state
commissioner for water resources and public utilities, Emeka Nwankwu,
said the money given to the state was not just as a reward for physical
infrastructure but for good governance in the water sector.
“We’re doing very well and as a form of recognition for our efforts we were given this money,” he said.
