Yobe: Buni seeks World Bank’s support in education, agriculture, healthcare services

Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe state has sought for World Bank’s supports in the education, agriculture and health care sectors so as to create jobs, developments, food sufficiency and be a healthy state.

The governor made the disclosure Friday at the meeting with the World Bank’s Country Director, Mr. Rachid Benmesseaoud, in Abuja.

Buni said as a result of partnership, with World Bank, currently the state maintains eight World Bank portfolios tailored at enhancing key policies and programmes with operational commitment of over N100 million which he said had contributed immensely in improving
the lives of the people.

“I would like to observe that the eight portfolios have so far collectively disbursed just over 50 per cent of the total commitments.
Some of them, like the Nigeria State Health Investment Projects (S-SHIP) which our state enjoyed for only two years, are ending soon.

“We therefore appeal to the World Bank Country Director to consider extending the operational time span of those portfolios that could not meet target due to late commencement of activities,” he said.

Governor Buni further, said the supports if received would help to achieve objectives of ‘Saving One Million Lives Initiative’ by reducing the maternal and newborn child mortality, upgrade the Tsangaya Schools in the state by addressing the problem of out-of-school children and also revamp agriculture sector noting that over 70 per cent of Yobe
people engage in mostly subsistence farming, knowing the potentials is more than that.

“As for healthcare, our goal at this stage is to have at least one functional primary health centre in each of the 178 wards of Yobe
state.  Currently, 97 PHCs are being considered for upgrade.  We will need support centres to enable us to reduce maternal and child
mortality, especially in the rural areas.”

Responding the World Bank Country Director, Mr. Rachid Benmessaoud, praised the Yobe state government for excelling in implementing projects funded by the bank.

“We are really proud to partner with the state because the state had done exceptionally well in the implementation of the World Bank
assisted programmes under your able leadership.

He, then promised to align with the state’s development plan which actually reflect the priority of the governor.

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