Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Ayodele Fayose, has reiterated his resolve to collaborate with development partners in the task of achieving economic transformation that will uplift the standard of living of the people resident in the state.
Speaking at the 2014 United Nations Development Partnership forum organized in affiliation with the Ekiti Government in Ikogosi Ekiti, Dr Fayose said that his administration’s objectives are focused on the replacement of poverty and want with plenty and prosperity.
The Governor, who was represented by his wife, Feisetan Fayose, at the forum tagged “Building on Our Collective Experience of Development Partnership in Ekiti State”, explained that he intends to achieve the development objectives through his six cardinal programmes
which he listed to include empowerment of the people to enable them pursue and realize their respective aspirations in their individual areas of core ability or competence with little or no inhibition.
According to him, other areas of core focus are development of Agriculture to ensure food security for domestic consumption and also for export; development of infrastructures through provision of good roads, public buildings, airport and extension of railway to the state; restoration of the glory of the state in education, science and technology; provision of free health care services for children, pregnant women and the physically challenged as well as guaranteed security of lives and property.
He stressed that the growth of a state should be seen as a joint effort, adding that the development partners are important stakeholders in achieving sustainable development in the state
Dr. Fayose stated that the ugly trend of the inability of the state to pay government counterpart contribution for some projects executed in the state would soon be redressed, he gave an assurance that funds would be duly budgeted for in the 2015 appropriation.
The Development Partners, including representatives of the World Bank, the United Nations Development Project (UNDP), United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), the European Union/Federal Ministry of Water Resources, African Development Bank (ADB), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Chinese Embassy were unanimous in stressing the importance of prompt payment of counterpart funds towards ensuring success of the programmes.
The Country Director of the World Bank who was represented by Dr. Tunji Adekola, however noted that the focus was more on the result rather than the amount voted for particular projects, stressing that the interest is more on the impact of the projects than efforts.