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The Inclusive Forum For Accountability Society (IFAS) has held its quarterly meeting for the last quarter of 2023.
The meeting which held at the conference room of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftancy Affairs and Rural Development at the State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos on Wednesday drew participants from IFAS members in Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State as well as members from the state secretariat.
Speaking at the event, Mrs. Toyin Adeniji, a Director at the host ministry of the ministry of Local Government, Chieftancy Affairs and Rural Development, appreciated the Humanity Foundation For Peace and Development (HUFFPED), a civil society group partnering with the government ministry on rural development efforts in Badagry area of Lagos State.
According to Adeniji, the ministry has enjoyed a working relationship with HUFFPED/Actionaid Nigeria partnership which she referred to as development partners.
“It is very good working with HUFFPED because we are in charge of all the Local Government and CDAs in Lagos State, some of which they have been supporting us on.
“We have over 4,500 registered CDAs and Communities in Lagos State, the government can not do it all because Lagos is a very big city and if you are talking about Lagos, we have communities that if not for the NGOs like HUFFPED or private partners coming in to support Lagos in communities, I don’t think such communities would be part of Lagos State,” she explained.
Adeniji continued that, “The government can not do it alone, the urban area is still calling for attention not to talk of communities that do not have drinking water, roads, or schools, it is people like HUFFPED that come to support the government in developing the communities.
“We welcome partners towards development of our communities in Lagos and HUFFPED has come to fill the gap especially in Wesere and other communities, without their support, I don’t know when development will get to them. It will surely get to them though but I don’t know when.
“When you are talking of needs assessment, water is very important, for another things, you cannot compromise water, we are not saying the government can not do it but I say kudos to HUFFPED. We still need NGOs, partners.”
She also mentioned that there are many NGOs whose impacts are not felt in the communities.
“There are so many NGOs that we don’t know their identity. They just say NGO NGO, but HUFFPED is looking into core rural areas. I am saying we are still open to collaborations because the goals and objectives are similar to ours,” she said.
Adeniji however warned that groups that want to engage in community development operations must inform the Ministry of Local Governmeny, Chieftancy Affairs and Rural Development.
According to her, the ministry must know what the NGO is doing in the communities because the ministry is the custodian of the communities and nobody should work in isolation in the communities in Lagos State but must follow protocols.
Project coordinator for HUFFPED on the project, Keinde Adebowale at the event relayed the various interventions of the NGO and its sponsors.
“I appreicate all in attendance today. It is a win for everyone here present that we started this journey together and we are still on it. I say thank you on behalf of ActionAid Nigeria and HUFFPED,” he said.
He however showed the participants slides of the success stories which include the facilities like a rebuilt health centre and an ambulance which he narrated was provided by the partnership of HUFFPED and ActioAid Nigeria.
Another participant, Tovio Sesede at the event, said the health centre is the flagship in Badagry West and it has been functional even before the intervention of a new structure.
According to her, “The facility is now more functional and more people are able to access it.”
Continuing, she said, “I just want to chip in something about the sustainability of the health centre. This particular health centre shown in the slide is the flagship in Badagry West Local Government. It has been functional even before the new one was built, and the location is very accessible.
“On immunisation days, you would see nursing mothers always trooping there and there are quarters for the doctors. It is not that doctors are not available, now that there is a new facility, the plae is now more functional.
“I just want to give an assurance that it is functional and very accessible to the community,” Sesede said.
Mr. Adebayo Ogunwole is a resident in Badagry who also attested to the fact that HUFFPED and ActionAid partnership has been helpful to the people.
“I want to say that HUFFPED and ActionAid, Nigeria have been on ground and we have to encourage them so that they can do more. Their record is with the Local Government. I am calling on them that they look into other areas outside where they have succeed in assisting the people and I pray God will help them,” he prayed.
During the meeting, the Ministry of Local Government Chieftancy Affairs and Rural Development (chairing ministry) was honored with an award of excellence and a certificate of appreciation.
Others honoured at the event were the Ministry of Economics, Planning and Budget which was awarded as the Financial Secretary. Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria, honored as the Deputy Chairperson,
while the National Orientation Agency was honored as the public relations agency.
They were all honoured for completing the term form November 2021 to November 23.
