AWKA – A Civil Society group, Christian Aid Uk/Nigeria, says it is set to assist Nigerians who have innovative ideas on how to improve the life of rural dwellers in Anambra.
Mr Charlse Usie, the Country Manager of the organisation in Nigeria, said this during a conference organised for applicants for the Innovation Fund (IF) in Awka on Friday.
Usie said the funds were earmarked by the group for the purpose uplifting of the poor and the marginalised in different communities in five states across country — Anambra, Cross River, Benue, Plateau and Kaduna — as well as the FCT.
The director said the organisation was partnering Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) to implement the programme because of its reach to the people.
According to him, successful bidders will be eligible to access grants of a maximum of 15,000 pounds to execute projects in the health, education and agriculture sectors.
He said studies had shown that a large number of Nigerians live below the poverty line, adding that project was designed to support such people through various forms of empowerment.
“The major objective of this exercise is to educate people on our V2P project which seeks to enhance knowledge on gender issues and reduce poverty through advocacy and concrete programmes.
“We want registered and credible organisations with good ideas and already undertaking development projects to come with their proposals and bid for this facility; it has a maximum of 15, 000 pounds,” he said.
Also speaking, Rev Fr. Edwin Udoye, the Executive Director of the commission in Onitsha, observed that the Innovative Fund project sought to project was seeking to deliver strong results in the area of community-driven accountability. [eap_ad_2] Udoye said that the project would directly enable 48,000 citizens to develop their capacity to effectively hold duty bearers to account.
He further said that the overall aim was improve socio- economic and political well-being and provide quality services across Anambra by the end of 2015, pointing out that It would be implemented in 12 council areas of the selected states.
“The programme’s rationale is to address the high levels of vulnerability and poverty which persist in Nigeria due to poor governance and ineffective service delivery.
“It will address low capacity of poor and marginalised citizens, especially rural adolescent girls and women”, the clergy man said. (NAN)[eap_ad_3]