U.S. offers $173,000 grants for community projects in Nigeria
NAN-F-6
Grants
By Isaac Aregbesola
Abuja,Nov. 28, 2016 (NAN) The United States Embassy in Nigeria on Monday awarded 173,000 dollars (about N55m) grants to 30 local Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) covering 19 states for community-based projects under the Ambassador’s Small Grants Programme.
The programme, according to new U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Symington, provides one-time small grants to community development projects.
“The ambassador’s small grant programme was established as a programme for the U.S. Mission in Nigeria to assist groups, neighbourhoods, villages and communities to help themselves.
“The grant is largely funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFRAR) and by the U.S. Department of State Self Help,” he said.
The funds, Symington said, was expected to cover projects ranging from purchasing of books and equipment for schools, construction of classrooms, health clinics, community centres, food processing mills to boreholes and latrines.
The funds would also provide economic, nutritional and hygienic needs of some families and communities affected by HIV/AIDS as well as providing safe school toilets to mitigate communicable diseases, he added.
According to him, through grants the U.S. Mission in Nigeria was able to reach the people and support the initiative, endeavours and development of local communities
The Ambassador, who said Nigeria was unique in the success of Africa as a continent, stressed on the need to support families and communities to make Nigeria great.
Adeola Seweje-Chimunda, who spoke on behalf of other grantees, commended the embassy for the initiative and pledged commitment for the implementation of various projects.
One of the grantees, Abel Oniye of the Good Samaritan initiative from Ondo State, said the 3,810 dollars grant for his NGOs was for educational support for the visually impaired School in Owo.
Oniye, who said the physically challenged are largely neglected by the authorities as little or no attention was paid to them, appealed to the government at all levels to pay more attention to their needs.
Adi Vera from Emmanuel Teryila Memorial Liberty Foundation based in Ushongu, Benue, said the 6,640 dollars for her organisation was to assist the out of school youth.
Vera said she had reached out to over 10,000 youth and was targeting more than 120 youths with the grant was to empower the school dropout to make them achieve their purpose of living.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the beneficiary states include Anambra, Benue, Borno, Cross Rivers, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Federal Capital Territory, Kwara and Lagos.
Others are Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Kogi States.
NAN however reports that this year’s grant was lower than 2015, which was 250,000 dollars grants to 35 NGOs covering 20 states. (NAN)
IAA/MST/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola