Enugu LGA Unveils Humanitarian Initiative

Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State has launched a development initiative aimed at ensuring inclusive growth in the LGA.

The Chairman of the LGA, Dr Eric Odo, said the initiative, tagged Igbo-Etiti Development and Humanitarian Initiative (IDHI), was “a coordinated framework aimed at repositioning the council area for sustainable and inclusive development.”

Speaking at Ogbede in the aftermath of the launch on Tuesday, Odo said the initiative was designed to address the pressing developmental and humanitarian needs of the people.

According to him, IDHI was conceived in line with government policies on community aspirations, private sector participation and diaspora engagement.

He said, “The Initiative is anchored on the understanding that governance must transcend routine administration and deliberately address security, human capital development, social welfare among others.
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“The IDHI is built on key pillars, including homeland security, education, infrastructure development, health, water and sanitation, youth and social empowerment, gender-based interventions, and sports development.”

The council boss said security remained the foundation of development.

“Under IDHI, we are determined to strengthen community-based security through collaboration with statutory agencies, traditional institutions, and local vigilante groups. We will prioritise equipping the security operatives with necessary tools and train them regularly to enable them secure all nooks and crannies of Igbo-Etiti.
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“The Initiative will focus on education through rehabilitation of school infrastructure, teacher capacity-building, and targeted support for indigent students,” he said.

He said the IDHI would drive strategic interventions in rural roads, markets electrification and digital connectivity.
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According to him, “We are also creating a well-structured avenue for diaspora investment, encouraging our brother and sisters abroad to partner in transforming Igbo-Etiti.”

The Chairman of IDHI Board of Trustees (BOT), Maj Gen Victor Ezeugwu (Rtd), pledged his commitment to ensure the Initiative succeeds, stressing that it would go a long way in the development of Igbo-Etiti.
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Ezeugwu said he and other BOT members would work closely with communities in the area to ensure that they contribute to the project.

The Chancellor of Maduka University, Chief Sam Onyishi, promised to join hands with others in the development of the council area.

He said, “I am impressed by the vision behind this initiative. It creates a strong platform for the people of Igbo-Etiti to take charge of their own development.”
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The highpoint of the event was the unveiling of the IDHI 5-Year Strategic Development Plan.