3 July 2008
Lagos — For the rural folks in Kano State, life can never be the same again as some corporate bodies and organisations have funded projects that would add value to their lives. As a result, some of the projects including 39 boreholes, 30 blocks of modern public latrines and other facilities were commissioned recently. Ndubuisi Ugah who was at the event, writes
At 70, Alhaji Inuwa Abubakar, appears a sad man. For many, who have attained such ripe age, there is nothing to worry about. But in his case, he has a lot to worry about. His reasons, though unconnected with the realities of life, is however, laced with the uncertainties which impact on the nation's socio-political and economic development.
In his native abode, somewhere in Kombusto local government area of Kano State, life has been of a mixed blessing. From lack of basic amenities to human capital neglect, the story has remained that of woes. Like other indigenes, it is only a matter of time and perhaps, the mercy of Allah that could redeem the situation.
It was against this background that one began to situate the excitement and joy that greeted the commissioning of some Water and Development Alliance (WADA) projects jointly funded by Coca-Cola Africa Foundation and United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with support from Kano-based non-governmental organisation, the Women Farmers' Advancement Network (WOFAN).
Abubakar, like some other indigenes, was excited seeing that finally, the state has been rescued from continued infrastructure development. His joy was a case study of how many indigenes state of mind was considering the relief which the projects were to impact on the citizenry.
Unlike most projects which past administrations in the state had either begun or completed, these projects were rather unique. They were unique because some of the rehabilitated or newly constructed projects were allegedly abandoned, which was why people like Abubakar were greatly disturbed by the trend of events. For a state, which enjoyed tremendous patronage for its commercial thrust, nothing was more appealing for the indigenes than developments, which could hasten the development of the state and by extension, the country.
On his part, Governor Ibrahim Shekarau has remained absolute in ensuring that the living standard of the people is improved upon. This, he made clear during his swearing address, which he said was embedded in a proactive policy framework, carefully mapped out to meet the yearnings of the people. To augment government's efforts, Shekarau said his administration was open to private sector participation to boosting the development of the state.
Instructively, the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation and USAID alliance however, showed that the collaboration was a positive example of how public-private partnerships can provide localised support to those with the greatest needs for water and sanitation services, while ensuring water resources are managed to serve future generations.
The local governments, which have benefited so far on the WADA projects, include Kombusto, Garum Mallam, Nasarawa, Dala, Kabo and Gabasawa. The projects commissioned across the state comprised of 39 boreholes, 30 blocks of modern public latrines and 18 hand washing facilities in schools and clinics which had no toilet facilities and no source of clean water. The projects also include an income generation component that will enable farmers through use of higher yield varieties of crops and irrigation of such crops to provide enough food for themselves and for commercial use all year round.
Though one of the schools was built in 1972, the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation and USAID partnership however, came to its rescue as funds were channeled to help rehabilitate the structure, which people like Abubakar, had been denied of. Among the projects commissioned in the school were VIP toilets, rehabilitated classrooms for teaching convenience as well as a borehole, which the indigenes rallied round to fence to ward-off its vandalisation.
Headmaster of the school, Alhaji Dahiru Lawan said the school was happy to be part of the laudable projects under the WADA scheme, stating that, "we are grateful that Allah has made us see the commissioning of these projects, especially in our school. We need more of such projects. We are grateful".
From there, the entourage proceeded to Zaiwashiki Special Primary School, Kombusto where the school's Chairman, Environmental Health Club, Alhaji Sanusi Ibrahim Panshekara, was on hand to lead the dignitaries to some of the projects earmarked for commissioning. Panshekara said the school houses about two to three thousand pupils comprising of two sessions (morning and afternoon).
Again, the projects commissioned were VIP toilets and rehabilitated classrooms, which before now were never in existence to allow for conducive learning atmosphere. The headmaster, Alhaji Muhammed Umar was not left out in the praise. He said, "the school was built in 1976 and because of lack of support, the it has suffered decay and this has affected our development."
Present at the event included the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Robin Renee Sander, Director, Public Affairs and Communications, of Coca-Cola Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Irene Ubah, the company's Community Affairs Manager, Mrs. Dayo Oluwole, USAID representative in Nigeria, Mr. Nikhil Jaisinghani, Nene Essang of the Economic Growth Office/Partnership and Private Sector.
The wife of the state governor, Hajia Amina Ibrahim Shekarau, the state Deputy Governor's wife, Hajia Habiba Abdullahi Twgwarzo, Commissioner for Rural Development, Dr. Iliyasu Musa Kwankwaso, wives of state commissioners, wife of Kombusto council area, Hajia Mariam Babadangundi, Health Councillor for Kumbosto local government area, Hajia Halima Babba Dan'Agundi as well as the Coordinator of Kano State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Hajia Magajiya Usman were also at the event. WOFAN Executive Director, Hajia Salamatu Garba was also present.
The projects cited for commissioning at Sheka Clinic, which is a health centre in Kumbosto local government area included rehabilitated health facilities such as patient wards, toilets, borehole among others. The projects were under the WADA scheme. Also, the team visited the 10 hectares demonstration farm at Malami town in Dawakin Kudu local government area, where the farm manager, Nehemiah Yohana, informed the visitors of the various steps taking by WOFAN in ensuring that the farm revolving scheme achieves its desired result. To buttress Yohana's arguments, WOFAN's Executive Director, Hajia Salamatu Garba said the farming scheme has been of utmost benefit to the state, given the dynamism and proactive nature of the revolving scheme to the farmers.
At the commissioning, Sanders acknowledged "the importance of the Water and Development Alliance (WADA) programme in Nigeria." She said "the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is honoured to partner with the Coca-Cola Company to advance this cooperation. Water is critical to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and this project is a priority for the United States Mission in Nigeria because it aims to improve sanitation and access to clean and safe drinking water for communities in six local government areas in Kano State.
Access to clean, safe, uncontaminated water boosts human health conditions," she stressed.
While acknowledging the tremendous efforts of the Kano State Government and the Ministry of Water Resources in undertaking the commitment of meeting the needs of the masses, the US Ambassador noted that the WADA project scheme was a worthy initiative, as "necessary steps to achieve tangible improvement. As I applaud the commitment by our private partner, the Coca-Cola Company, I want to emphasise that the private sector has an important role and responsibility in the solution of the world's most pressing problems. No section of society can address these problems alone, and this effort cannot be possible without the active participation of the private sector as it leads the way in technological change and innovations.
"In joining this partnership, the Coca-Cola Company is acknowledging and accepting their role as a key partner in attaining the MDGs we have set before. Delivering clean water and providing sanitation are two most basic foundations for human progress. Humanity needs water for life-for drinking, cooking and washing. We also need water to grow food, and earn a living," Sanders emphasised. She explained that, "every dollar invested in water and sanitation yields multiple benefits in productive activity. This multiplies into immeasurable gains in reducing poverty, improving health and raising living standard. Together, we can achieve this and build a harmonious, great Nigeria."
Coca-Cola Director of Public Affairs and Communication said that Coca-Cola Africa Foundation was created in 2001 to manage the community investments of the Coca-Cola System in Africa. She maintained that "over the years, it has invested substantially in the areas of education, health and the environment and continues to partner with credible institutions, leveraging the system's unparalleled manufacturing and distribution network, to access some of Africa's most remote locations for community development and numerous disaster relief efforts across the continent".
With a strong partnership backing, Ubah reiterated that "the Kano project has proved to all that what has become a cliché in Nigeria-the so-called Public-Private partnership is real and is workable. In this project what you find is cooperation between a private sector organisation-the Coca-Cola company; a development and donor agency, the USAID; an NGO (WOFAN); a state government and its agencies.
Hajia Amina Ibrahim Shekarau, the state governor's wife commended Coca-Cola Africa Foundation and USAID in bringing the projects to the state, especially at a time when the state government had devoted so much human and capital development initiative to the fight against poverty.
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