PIND-supported NGO, DICI, champions for local content in Delta

By Foster Akpore

A non-governmental organization, Development Initiative for Community Impact (DICI), with support from Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), has on Monday, October 14 2019, held a Dialogue Forum on Advancing Localization of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) in Delta State at Ogbe-Ijoh, headquarters of Warri South-West Local Government Area.

The event which took place at the Council Hall of the Secretariat had in attendance a high-powered delegation led by the Executive Chairman of the Council, Hon. Taiye Duke Tuoyo, the SLG, Councilors, Departmental Heads and select Council staff, CSO representatives, Egbema-Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation (EGCDF), Itsekiri Regional Development Council (IRDC), Media, CAN, WOWICAN, Women and Youth groups, etc.

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In her opening remark, the Executive Director of Development Initiative for Community Impact, Racheal Misan-Rupee, stated that the objective of the project is to “raise SDGs awareness among local, State Actors and non-State Actors in Delta State and to promote active citizen’s participation in engaging and monitoring of SDGs implementation in Delta State”.

The chairman of the Council, Hon. Taiye Duke Tuoyo, who was elated and thankful to the organizers about the choice of his Council for the programme, stated that “even though the impact of the MDGs was not felt in our L.G.A, we are hopeful that this time around, we will be able to achieve the SDGs; and as we all know, our communities are affected by health and flood challenges, which the construction of shoreline protection can help to ameliorate its impact on our people, and we are open to offer the needed partnership and support to CSOs  to help make our Council achieve the SDGs”.

The well attended programme which featured various sessions and presentations by Mr. Chiedozie Onyeuku, Technical Adviser, Delta State Office of the SDGs, Asaba, on ‘The Role of Local Government in Achieving Agenda 2030’, panel discussion on ‘How citizens and communities can participate, engage and monitor the implementation of the SDGs in Warri South-West and Delta State’, came to close with a call on citizens and government to internalize and prioritize the implementation of the SDGs  in all developmental plans and projects.