Delta counts gains of 7 years of successful partnership with World Bank, European Union

The State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) project, which is a seven-year partnership deal between the Delta State Government, the World Bank and European Union (EU) is a huge success, according to Frank Apaokwu, the state project coordinator.

Unfortunately, the scheme is about to wind up in the next few weeks in Delta State.

But Apaokwu says that more than 700,000 residents in the three senatorial districts of Delta State benefitted from the community-driven development subcomponents of the project.

“Within the seven years’ operation of the project, no fewer than 9,515 direct employments were created through its labour intensive Small Public Works components of the scheme,” Apaokwu told a news conference in Asaba on Monday, September 14, 2020.

Apaokwu noted that the figure was more than the initial target of 8,736 earlier set by the World Bank.

‘’ During the period under review, SEEFOR successfully trained in excess of 14,900 beneficiaries in technical, vocational and agricultural skills as against the initial target of 7,900 set by the World Bank.

‘’ The partnership deal had, within the period carried out more than 106 road construction and rehabilitation as well as drainage projects,’’ he said.

He disclosed that more than 160 waste management contracts were implemented through its Public Sector Participants (PSPS) model and that “work is ongoing on the 13 labour intensive small public works road construction and maintenance sites across the state which are expected to be completed this September.”

Apart from the scorecard presented by Apaokwu, the testimonies from the beneficiaries of the various projects executed by the scheme also confirmed the huge success of the seven-year development scheme.

For instance, the students of the technical colleges and vocational centres in Delta State lauded the impact of the SEEFOR project in the state during the tour of some of the projects by journalists and officials of the scheme.

The students noted that the intervention of the donor agencies did not only transform the technical and vocational colleges, but also created jobs for them.

Okiroro Johnson, a student of Mechanical Department from Ofagbe Technical College, in Isoko North Local government area of the State, noted that the intervention of SEEFOR by providing adequate learning facilities and conducive environment has made learning of various skills at the institution very easy.

‘’The provision of these equipment by SEEFOR has helped to improve my level of assimilation as well as gave me the opportunity to execute jobs outside school hours,’’ he said.

For Okeoghene Goodluck of the same Mechanical Department, “with the intervention of SEEFOR, we have learnt so much within the shortest possible time.

‘’We can now conveniently dismantle cars, change engine oil, brake pads and fuel without any assistance.’’

On his part, Innocent Etugbo, a beneficiary of SEEFOR, who resides in Ofagbe, said he graduated from the same Ofagbe Technical College and that ‘’it is by God’s grace that SEEFOR empowered me with starter packs, which enabled me to set this Welding and fabrication shop.

“I was able to get married through the proceeds from this business and I am also now an employer of labour. And as I speak, I have 15 boys working under me. I must say I am grateful to God for using SEEFOR to establish me,’’ he said.

Similarly, the Administrator of Ozoro Vocational Centre in Isoko North Local Government Area of the state, Augustine Isawhe, noted that SEEFOR did a lot in the centre, that was established in 2010, but benefitted from the face-lift in 2014 by SEEFOR.

‘’Through SEEFOR intervention, our students’ enrolment rose from about 60 students to 180 students because they made the centre viable.

“SEEFOR projects have not only impacted on the students of this institution, but also impacted on the lives of the people of this community.

“In 2017, we trained a total number 17 persons from this community and in 2018, we trained 36 of them and most of them have been established in their various businesses,’’ he said.

Asiawhe, while commending the World Bank, EU and the state government for the intervention programme, appealed for more support, especially in the area of access road to enable the institution grow.

The completed project sites visited were science laboratory and examination hall at Unenurhie Secondary School; multi-purpose hall and open market stalls at Oviri-olomu; multi-purpose hall and renovated staff quarters/ corpers’ lodge at Aragba-orogun; and renovated multi-purpose hall and borehole at Igbuku.

Okoro of Oviri-olomu, said their respective communities chose the projects, which were executed with the donor agencies contributing 90 percent of the cost, while the benefiting communities raised the balance 10 percent.