The Ebonyi State government has disclosed that Governor Francis Nwifuru has attracted grants worth over ₦96 billion and more than $40 million to the state to support investments in agriculture, healthcare, education, renewable energy, water supply and women empowerment.
The disclosure was made in a press statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Ebonyi State Ministry of Grants and Donor Agencies, Mr. Chukwudi Nweke during the weekend.
According to the statement, the newly secured grants are in addition to previously announced interventions under the Productive Use of Energy (PUE) Agro-processing Equipment programme valued at ₦12 billion, the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) project grant worth ₦10 billion, the Sustainable Power Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) project valued at $25 million, and the African Development Bank intervention grant on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) amounting to ₦8.1 billion.
Nweke said the latest interventions include the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project grant valued at ₦27.7 billion, the Energizing Healthcare and Education Facilities for Resilience and Transformation (e-HEART) project worth ₦18.6 billion, the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equality (HOPE) project grant of ₦20 billion, the Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress for Accelerating Coverage Transformation Services (IMPACT) project grant of $12.34 million, and the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU) grant valued at $3 million.
He stated that the grants are aimed at strengthening critical sectors of the state's economy, improving access to quality healthcare and education, enhancing agricultural productivity, expanding renewable energy access and empowering women across Ebonyi State.
The ministry's spokesperson further disclosed that two additional international interventions are currently undergoing documentation.
They include a proposed $2 billion Waste-to-Energy Investment Grant and a $1 billion grant for the establishment of a Multi-functional Advanced Research Hospital.
According to him, the projects, when completed, are expected to further accelerate infrastructure development, boost healthcare delivery, promote environmental sustainability and stimulate economic growth in the state.
Nweke attributed the inflow of grants to the proactive leadership of Governor Nwifuru and his administration's commitment to attracting development partners and donor-funded interventions capable of improving the living standards of the people.
He reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability and effective coordination of donor-supported projects to maximise their impact on communities across Ebonyi State.
