The MOU signing with Bayelsa State Governemnt took place  on the 21st of August, 2009 at the Bayelsa State Liaison Office in Abuja. Dignitaries from Bayelsa State includes Honourable Commissioners of Education, Mrs Josephine Ezonbodor,  Finance, Sylva Charles Opuala, Special Advicer to the Governor on Donor Agencies Mr. Topedo Amananaghan who represented His Excellency, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre  Sylva. From the National Planning Commission, Mrs Bagaiya, the Director of International Cooperation,  represented the Honourable Minister of the NPC, also other officials from the ministry were in attendance. From the Delegation of the European Union Commission in Abuja, Mr. Denis Theiulin, Acting Head of Delegation led a team consisting of Mr. Ramon-Maria Raigada-Granda – Head of Section, Rural and Social Development, Water & Sanitation, Dr. Maryam Abdu – Project Officer, Rural & Social Development, and many other delegation officials.

Mr. Denis Theiulin,  in his address informed the Governor the objectives of MPP9 and the expected results in Beyelsa State by the end of the Programme in 2012. He solicited for cooperation from the State Governement to the MPP9 Team during the implementation of the projects especially in the areas of security. He also pointed out the importance of jointly sensitizing the people of Bayelsa State on MPP9 Projects.

In the speech by the Honourable Minister of National Planning Commission as read by Mrs Bagaiya, the Honourable Minister explained the importance of MPP9 projects to the people of Bayelsa State and the involvement of communities and Local Governements in co-financing the projects. He further enunciated the level of such involvements regarding the percentages of co-financing for the reason that the communities’ sense of ownership of the projects will be hightened. In this regard he drew comparisons with previous projects during MPP3 and MPP6. The Minister pointed out Federal Government’s intention in pursiung similar policies aimed at empowering the rural populace, alleviation of poverty and commitment to entrenching the MDGs.

In response, the representative of the Governor , Mr. Topedo Amananaghan during the occassion assured the Federal Government of the his State Governement’s full support towards the successful implementation of the MPP9 project and any other policies meant to empower the people of Bayelsa State. He further pointed out the State Government’s own poverty alleviation policies and commitments to the MDGs.

The Representative of the Governor of Bayelsa  State, Honorable Mr. Topedo Amananaghan, Special Advicer to the Governor on Donor Agencies, is seen above with Mrs. Laraba Bagaya, the director of the International Cooperation in the NPC, on behalf of the Minister of the NPC,  signing the MPP9 MOU between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Bayelsa State.

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