The Abuja programme officer of Ford Foundation/Connected Development (CODE), Nkem Ibeh, who represented the chief executive of the organization, Hamzat Lawal, has expressed excitement with the people of Akpabu Community in Emohua LGA of Rivers State, saying that over the years CODE has been working seriously in their area to ensure their wellbeing.
Nkem Ibeh stated this on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at the palace of the paramount ruler of Akpabu/Itu Communities, during the organization’s visit there, to track some abandoned projects in the area.
She said: “As an organization, what we do is to amplify the voices of communities, especially the marginalized communities in the areas of health, education, WASH and for this community, we will be tracking the health and water projects”.
She urged them to speak out and share their concerns in the areas of their needs as CODE will continue to engage them until they see the result they hope to achieve.
CODE state lead programme officer, Evelyn Williams the organization has identified from issues brought to its notice by the community champion, issues of abandoned water and the primary health center.
She expressed gladness that CODE advocacy has moved the LGA chairman to action, to start a water project in the community, adding that the project would be tracked together to ensure the chairman actually delivers on the project.
In his response, the CDC chairman of Akpabu Community, Dr. Obuah Anthony recalled that since the last visit of the organization to the community, they have not received any government presence, nor attention from the oil companies operating around their area.
Dr. Anthony further added that on their own as a community, especially through the benevolence of their paramount ruler, Eze Godwill C. Ordu, something has been done about trying to fix broken pipes so that water can run from the borehole.
The CDC Chairman explained that they are still expecting the government to attend to other needs at the community’s health center.
“We have personnel there, we have the matron there, other staff. We have taken up the issue of the Health Center with the local government chairman, and he has promised to do something.
“We need some renovation there to re-fix broken doors and other pieces of furniture like tables, chairs and ceilings. And there, there is provision for resident doctors but some of the facilities are failing, the sounds proof generator there is not in use now, and so there is no light there and no water”, the CDC chairman recounted.
According to him, before Christmas last year, the local government chairman was able to enter into an MOU with PHED, and paid the sum of N23.8m, stating that the community was expected to be hooked on to light on December 24, 2022 but (Port Harcourt Power Holding), PHED failed them.
Speaking on behalf of the women, the woman leader of Akpabu Community, Mrs. Eunice Emeka informed that the women attend the health center and they are being treated. She said water and light are the only problems at the health center and appealed that these services be provided.
CODE Community Champion for the area, Mr. Okechukwu Ohia thanked the paramount ruler, the CDC chairman and members of the community for their cooperation and the warm reception accorded the organization.
Paramount Ruler of Akpabu/Itu, HRH Eze Godwill C. Ordu, expressed his deep joy and appreciation over the visit of Ford Foundation/ Connected Development (CODE), to his community, describing it as very fruitful.
King Ordu asked the non-governmental bodies not to relent in their advocacy on improving the living standard of the people in the rural communities and gave them his royal blessings.
Before proceeding to Akpabu Community, the Ford Foundation/Connected Development, CODE team paid a courtesy visit to the chairman of Emohua LGA, Dr. Hon. Chidi Loyd at the council headquarters, where he was briefed by the Abuja programme officer, Nkem Ibeh, on their mission.
Rivers State Lead CODE, Evelyn Williams commended the chairman on his ongoing water project at Akpabu community, and implored him to see the need to extend his magnanimity to the renovation of the Community School and the Primary Health Center, which she noted are very essential.
In his response, Dr. Hon. Chidi Loyd thanked the team for coming, and for their good advocacy on social accountability.
He assured them that he will complete the water project on record time, and also do something to improve the facilities at the health center and the Community School.
