Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has inaugurated the State Steering Committee and Technical Working Group for the HOPE-Gov Programme, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to human capital development and improved public service delivery.
The governor, represented by his Deputy, Comrade Joel Salifu, inaugurated the committees on Monday in his office in Lokoja, saying the World Bank-supported programme aligns with the administration’s priorities in education, primary healthcare, capacity building, fiscal transparency and accountability.
Ododo charged members of the committees to regard their appointments as a call to service and discharge their responsibilities with integrity, teamwork and accountability to ensure the programme delivers tangible benefits to the people of Kogi State.
He said the administration would continue to provide the necessary support and strengthen collaboration with the World Bank and other development partners to ensure the effective implementation of the programme and the achievement of measurable results.
Also Speaking, the Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Asiwaju Idris represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Ochu Philip, appreciated the governor for the opportunity given to members of the committees to serve.
Idris described HOPE-Gov as a critical intervention that complements the administration’s focus on human capital development, assuring that the committees would work collectively to achieve its objectives and make a meaningful impact on the lives of the people of the state.
The State Project Coordinator, HOPE-Gov Kogi State, Pharm. Ramat Aliyu, said the inauguration marked another step towards strengthening human capital development, institutional capacity and public service delivery in the state.
She explained that the HOPE Programme comprises HOPE-Gov, HOPE-PHC and HOPE-EDU, designed to promote better governance, stronger institutional systems, improved basic education and quality primary healthcare.
Aliyu said HOPE-Gov places emphasis on measurable results, effective planning, transparency, accountability, workforce management, monitoring and proper documentation.
She assured that the Kogi State HOPE-Gov team would work with the National Programme Coordination Unit, World Bank and other stakeholders to achieve the programme’s targets and deliver sustainable benefits to the people of the state.
