By Ogbebor Tony Ikponmwosa
One of the core objectives of the Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP) is to create and stimulate development in local communities through oil palm investments.
This was the focus area as ESOPP and one of its investors, Barnsley Nigeria Limited carried out Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) exercise in fourteen (14) communities in Edo State.
The exercise, which is a collaboration between ESOPP and Barnsley in project communities, is targeted at ensuring that ESOPP investors carry out annual developmental projects in their various host communities. The exercise was carried out at Evbowie, Avbiugo, Iguemokhua, Evbuwa, Idu, Idunmwowina, Igbekhue, Ugo, Ona, Obozogbe-N’Ugu Evbuarhue, Okogbo, Evboehia and Iguere communities, all in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the State.
Speaking at the event, the Data Management Officer of the Edo State Oil Palm Independent Implementation Office, Mr. Emmanuel Omondeagbon, said that the Godwin Obaseki-led administration is committed to improving the lives of residents of local communities in the State through oil palm investments. He stressed that all ESOPP investors are mandated to carry out annual community-based projects that will cater for the needs of the people.
Mr. Omondeagbon noted that the PRA exercise allows for host communities to point out their areas of needs which the investors should respond to as part of its agreement with the State Government, ranging from infrastructural development such as provision of electricity, access to potable water supply amongst others.
In his words, “The reason we called for traditional rulers, elders, women, men, youths and minority groups to be present in this meeting is to ensure that everyone is carried along and no one is left out, because in this PRA exercise we want every group in the community to have their say in what should be done in the community that will be beneficial to everyone”.
The representative of Barnsley Nigeria Limited, Dr. Tunde Faturoti, commended ESOPP for their mediating role between the communities and the ESOPP investors. He described the exercise as an open brainstorming session where investors check and assess the needs of the communities and intervene by carrying out developmental projects that will ameliorate the challenges faced by the people.
“The Participatory Rural Assessment Exercise is built on sustainability, for this business to be sustainable we need to have a good rapport with the various communities that will create a good relationship between the company and the communities, that is the basis of this exercise”, he said.
As a result of this exercise, the needs assessment of the various communities ranged from electricity, markets, health centers, potable water supply, renovation and construction of schools, community town halls, good access roads and renovation of some Enigie’s palaces within the communities.
The various communities commended the efforts of the State Government and the ESOPP investors, assuring them of their continuous support and cooperation.
