The Enugu State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) has stressed the importance of responsible leadership and community participation in delivering sustainable development projects.
The agency said community involvement would help ensure that interventions address local needs and improve residents’ living conditions. Its General Manager, Hon. Monday Diamond Ani, made the remarks on Tuesday in Nchatancha Nike, Enugu East Local Government Area (LGA).
Ani led the CSDA team on sensitisation and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) exercises across five communities in the council area. The exercise forms part of efforts to identify grassroots development priorities under the Nigerian Community Action Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES 2.0) programme.
The team also visited Akpogazi, Nkomoru, Onuogba and Edem Nike communities. The initiative aligns with other grassroots interventions, including the CSDA sensitisation and PRA exercise across six Enugu communities.
CSDA Charges Community Leaders on Accountability
Addressing elected Community Project Management Committee (CPMC) members, Ani urged them to remain committed to serving their communities.
He charged the members to uphold prudence, accountability and transparency throughout project implementation. He also emphasised integrity in managing resources and strict compliance with established guidelines.
Ani said project decisions must reflect the collective interests of residents. He added that responsible leadership would help communities achieve meaningful and lasting benefits from government interventions.
The CSDA general manager explained that the PRA exercise gives residents an opportunity to identify priority needs and express their development aspirations.
He said community members would also participate in shaping projects designed to improve their living conditions. The approach reflects the importance of grassroots involvement in development initiatives, as demonstrated by the CSDA’s rural development projects across seven Enugu South communities.
NG-CARES 2.0 Targets Community Development Priorities
Ani said the initiative aligns with Governor Peter Mbah’s development vision for Enugu State.
According to him, the state government is using CSDA and the NG-CARES platform to strengthen community participation and ownership of development projects.
He explained that the approach would help ensure interventions respond to residents’ actual needs and deliver sustainable benefits.
The programme focuses on identifying local priorities and involving community members in decisions concerning development interventions. Its implementation also complements the state government’s broader development agenda, including efforts highlighted in the report on Mbah’s 10,000 achievements across Enugu State.
The government has continued to promote development across different sectors and communities. Its broader efforts are also reflected in reports on Enugu’s drive to sustain development gains.
Raymond Ugwu Commends Mbah’s Rural Development Efforts
The member representing Enugu East Rural State Constituency, Hon. Raymond Ugwu, accompanied the CSDA team during the community visits.
Ugwu commended Governor Mbah for prioritising development in rural communities. He said the administration had shown interest in ensuring that residents received direct benefits from government programmes.
“I must commend His Excellency the Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for having keen interest to see rural communities get direct dividends of democracy,” Ugwu said.
He described the CSDA approach as a community-focused intervention designed to address practical and immediate needs.
According to Ugwu, these needs include access to potable water and hygiene facilities. His comments highlight the role of community-based projects in improving essential services, a priority also reflected in the CSDA’s grassroots development work.
Community Leaders Praise Inclusive Development Approach
Other community leaders also commended the Enugu State Government’s rural development efforts.
They described the initiatives as laudable and praised the emphasis on community-led ownership of projects.
Their response reflects the importance of involving residents in identifying needs and overseeing interventions intended for their benefit.
The CSDA’s approach also fits into wider calls for people-centred development across Enugu State. The Deputy Speaker has praised CSDA for its people-oriented development in Enugu communities.
The state government has also pursued agricultural development initiatives, including the South-East agro-development programme launched by Mbah and the SEDC.
Other stakeholders have recognised the administration’s development efforts. The NACCIMA has commended Mbah’s security efforts and backed Enugu’s economic ambition, while the Igbo-Eze South chairman has praised the governor’s grassroots development agenda.
CSDA Emphasises Community Ownership of Projects
The sensitisation and PRA exercises are intended to help communities identify their most pressing development needs and participate in planning suitable interventions.
Through the NG-CARES 2.0 programme, CSDA is seeking to strengthen community ownership and ensure projects reflect local priorities.
Ani urged CPMC members to exercise their responsibilities with integrity and accountability. He maintained that responsible leadership and active participation remain essential to delivering sustainable benefits.
The engagement in Enugu East forms part of the agency’s wider grassroots development efforts across the state. Its success will depend on cooperation between community leaders, residents and the relevant government institutions.
The approach reinforces the need for development projects to respond to the practical needs of the people they are designed to serve.
