By Christian ABURIME
Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR has advanced Public Community Private Partnership as the way forward for development.
Governor Soludo who made the call in Igboukwu when he commissioned an auditorium renovated by the alumni association of Boys Secondary School, Igboukwu built within the premises, said that the resources available to government cannot do development work alone.
Highpoint of the event was when Governor Soludo offered full scale scholarship to three children that built a miniature power generating set, house and car.
The Governor gave the SS2 boy scholarship to university level from Ikéngà Aguata as well as a Primary 5 pupil who want to proceed to seminary school after his secondary school education.
According to the Governor, such innovation is at the foundation of what his administration is trying to promote.
“The children signify that the emphasis is not only on what you know but what you can do. These kids have demonstrated it.
“When some people call me sometimes, I keep asking them what problem they intend to solve for Ndị Anambra.
“The principles combined to produce these items, is the very essence of our gathering.
“I appreciate the old boys of Boys Secondary School Igboukwu, particularly Engineer Dom Okafor for embarking on this project.
“This is a celebration of our development model which is PCPP because the resources available to government for development is low.
“The roads we have flagged-off already is costing about 100 billion, not to talk of other engagements in health and other sectors. Even if you multiply what is contributed to government by 5, it’s barely enough to provide all that is needed.
“This is why we emphasize this PCPP model. What individuals and communities can do is at the heart of development, the Governor pointed out.
“There are many communities that have taken it in their hands to develop their places. Ninety-nine percent of what government needs for development, is in private hands.
“Part of our job is to mobilize the people to contribute their quota and take charge”, Governor Soludo stressed.
“We’ve come here to celebrate such initiative. While appreciating the alumni for this, it’s time for them to do more.
“This kind of initiative is about the consciousness, not really the willingness. I recommend it for individuals and communities.
“For us as government, we are trying to do the much we can do.
“We’ve been just 9 months in office, within which we’ve constructed 256 kilometers of roads.
“Part of the paradigm shift we brought on board is that we flag-off the roads we can do per time, not to tell lies and make promises that we can’t keep”.
The Governor who wished Ndi Anambra a prosperous new year, expressed optimism that with the foundation being laid within its first few months life span, Anambra must be better for it at the end of the day.
The benefactor, Engineer Dom Okafor said he was influenced by the drive to give back to the society and wished that more people will come on-board to develop the society, starting from their local domain.
The event which also featured commissioning of a water facility was attended by Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, among others.