As part of its efforts towards increasing the standard of living of the people in rural areas, Oyo State Government has completed 788 projects in 158 communities.
The projects include rural electrification, water provision health care services, education, environment and social economic empowerment.
The Board Chairman, Oyo State Community and Social Development Agency (OYCSDA) Dr Idowu Oyeleke disclosed this during a media tour to some of the projects at Ibadan, Oyo, Ogbomoso, and Oke Ogun areas of the State.
According to Dr Oyeleke, the World Bank assisted Community and Social Development Project empowered communities to develop, implement and monitor micro social infrastructural projects in their community.
The Chairman noted that various rural communities have been relieved as the present administration under the leadership of Engr. Seyi Makinde continued to strengthen the partnership with the World Bank in reducing poverty in the State.
He stressed further that most women in the rural areas faced high risk of medical complications due to non-availability of health care services while most communities were exposed to various water born diseases as a result of lack of potable water.
He noted that the intervention of the present administration in the State has achieved reduction in maternal death rate and water borne diseases while many communities in darkness have been connected to the national grid.
“The beauty of the Community and Social Development Project is that the benefitting communities prioritize their needs, observing all processes, get approval and execute projects through their preferred service provider, no imposition of project that sometimes may not be needed by the community.
“A total number of 788 community development micro projects have been completed in 155 communities out of which 752 projects are completed and in use, 51Group Development Project (GDP) are completed and in use while 13 are ongoing.”
The Chairman however charged benefitting communities and concerned groups to ensure they maintain and sustain all projects in their domains.
In their responses, the benefitting communities were full of appreciation to the present administration in the State under the leadership of Engr. Seyi Makinde for bringing development to their door steps, promising to make the best use of the projects.