The Kogi State Community and Social Development Agency has announced that the state will benefit from an additional $500 million World Bank financing under the NG-CARES 2.0 programme. The new funding is expected to expand livelihood support, food security services, and grants for poor and vulnerable households and communities across the state.
The General Manager of Kogi CSDA, Chief Momoh Dauda, made this known at a two-day capacity-building training for Local Government Review Committees and Desk Officers held in Okene on Wednesday.
Dauda said the additional financing would help the agency surpass the achievements recorded under NG-CARES 1.0, where 74 community development plans and 187 micro-projects were implemented across local government areas, directly benefiting about 2.5 million people.
He commended Governor Usman Ododo for his proactive role in ensuring the timely release of funds for the programme even before its official commencement date in December.
“The agency will surpass its previous accomplishments with NG-CARES 2.0, which has an additional financing of $500 million,” he said.
Dauda explained that the training aimed to strengthen the technical, institutional, and operational capacities of participants to ensure effective implementation, review, and oversight of Community Development Plans and Group Development Plans.
The first phase of the capacity-building training drew participants from Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okehi, Okene, Ogori Magongo, and Kabba Bunu local government areas. Others in attendance included local government personnel from Ijumu, Mopa Amuro, Yagba East, and Yagba West.
“The training initiative equally aims to strengthen the technical, institutional, and operational capacities of participants for the effective implementation, review, and oversight of Community Development Plans and Group Development Plans,” Dauda added.
He stated that the training would equip participants with the necessary knowledge to deliver transparent and inclusive interventions that align with Kogi State’s development goals.
Dauda noted that NG-CARES 2.0 builds on the achievements of its predecessor, which delivered community-driven interventions that improved livelihoods, increased access to basic services, and strengthened social protection systems across rural and vulnerable areas in the state.
Participants were exposed to NG-CARES objectives, components, implementation arrangements, environmental and social safeguards, gender mainstreaming, and inclusion of vulnerable groups.
The session also featured interactive presentations and discussions led by government officials, technical experts, and agency managers, providing an opportunity for experience sharing.
In his remarks, Aina Ekundayo, Director of Local Government, Yagba East, described the training as an eye-opener, adding that the knowledge gained would improve the implementation of NG-CARES 2.0 at the local government level.
