Date: 2016-08-21

The Kwara state Government has again stressed the need to support the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for sustainable development in the state. The state government invited the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to a one day stakeholders forum for the purpose of interacting with NGOs and incorporate them for sustainable development in the state.

The forum was hosted by the office of Special Adviser on Special Duties and was largely attended by top government functionaries, members of the NGO and distinguished participants. The forum was declared open by Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed, who was represented by Secretary t0 the State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold.

Alhaji Gold said NGOs have played a significant role at both national and state levels and Kwara state has deemed it fit to organise a forum like this with the purpose of knowing their challenges and how government could strengthen them in order to take the state to a new height of development. The Special Adviser on Special Duties, Evangelist Felicia Fayemi, in her opening remark, appreciated Governor Ahmed for making the forum a reality. She said the state government had reiterated the need to partner with the NGOs for sustainable development in the state.

Evangelist Felicia stated that, U.N Secretary General Banki Moon in his speech during a U.N General Assembly in 2015 called for the adoption of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which will seek to end poverty, achieve gender equality and ensure food security in every corner of the world by 2030, this he said, is the people's agenda, a plan of action for ensuring poverty in all dimensions, irreversibly everywhere and living on one behind.

She noted that, while the SDG had commenced since January 1, the state government under the leadership of Governor Ahmed deemed it necessary to do a thorough plan in ensuring that everyone got involved in achieving transformative development for every family, community, and inhabitants in the state. She said that the day marked a milestone in the civil society and government partnership building in Kwara state with a view to providing a better understanding of service being provided.

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Alhaji Mahmud Babatunde Ajeigbe who was represented by the Director of Information, Mr S.A.B Odeyemi said, the role of the NGOs in our society could not be over-emphasised. Their existence has supported governments all over the world in various ways and contributed immensely to the general well-being of people in the remote areas like finance and provision of service.

He stated further that the occasion was on the right track to bring the people of the government and government for the people to function. He encouraged government and the NGOs to re-orientate people on the need to abstain from harmful practices, characters and attitudes, and such negative behaviors were not only dangerous for their well-being but also hindered the general development of the state.

He urged the NGOs not to relent on their good work in positively touching the lives of the masses. In the same vein, Pastor Soji Sogunro the C.E.O Royal Heritage Health Foundation, thanked the government for the bold step taken to organize the programme stating that it was noble and showed the state government's commitment to uplift the standard of living of the people of the state.

Pastor Sogunro however pleaded to the state government to support the NGOs by playing its part. He said the organization contributed more in the world especially in Malaria immunization. 'Presently running we have over one billion dollars on Malaria Immunization, HIV and other diseases and Kwara state is a beneficiary' he concluded.

Source: HeraldNews