The Enugu State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) has continued its community sensitisation and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) exercises with more communities covered in Nkanu East Local Government Area.
As part of preparations for community-driven development interventions across the state, the CSDA continues in the exercise to bring together community members.
The CSDA Team led by the General Manager/CEO, Hon Monday Diamond Ani, provided an opportunity for the people to actively participate in identifying the history, needs, challenges and development priorities of their communities.
During the Participatory Rural Appraisal, community members were divided into groups and tasked with documenting the history of their communities, including significant changes that have occurred over the years, as well as identifying existing challenges and areas requiring development intervention.
The CSDA team also used the occasion to sensitise the communities on the importance of addressing issues surrounding HIV/AIDS, particularly its potential impact on families and community development.
The sensitisation placed special emphasis on women, vulnerable groups and other members of the communities who may be disproportionately affected.
Addressing the community members, the General Manager/CEO, Hon. Monday Diamond Ani, urged them to take ownership of projects that would eventually be implemented in their communities. He also advised them to adhere strictly to the guidelines and ethics of the Agency throughout the project implementation process, stressing that transparency, accountability, cooperation and community participation remain essential to the success and sustainability of the interventions.
At Onicha Agu Amagunze and Onicha Agu Ndi Agu Autonomous Communities, Rt Hon Anayo Edeh(former Three Term Member House of Representatives) and SPA to the Governor on Mining Hon Samuel Okoro as well the Traditional ruler and the teaming crowd welcomed the CSDA Team to their communities.
As part of the participatory process, 20 Community Project Management Committee (CPMC) members were democratically elected by the community members to represent their respective communities during the implementation and monitoring of the projects.
The exercise was characterised by excitement and appreciation from the community members, who expressed their gratitude to the Enugu State Government for prioritising rural development. In a show of appreciation, the people rendered songs of praise in honour of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, celebrating his commitment to transforming rural communities and bringing development interventions closer to the grassroots.
The communities visited included Ajame Akpawfu, Ishienu Amagunze, Ubahu, Onicha Agu Amagunze, Onicha Agu Ndi-Agu Amagunze,Oruku among the six communities covered during the exercise.
The ongoing sensitisation and PRA exercise underscores CSDA's commitment to ensuring that communities are not merely beneficiaries of development interventions but active participants in identifying, implementing and monitoring projects designed to improve their livelihoods and quality of life.
