KEYNOTE ADDRESS DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE GOVERNOR OF EKITI STATE, DR. KAYODE FAYEMI AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF A TWO- DAY TRAINING WORKSHOP FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ON EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF MDGs PROJECTS HELD BETWEEN THURSDAY 3RD AND FRIDAY 4TH MAY, 2012 AT LADY JIBOWU HALL, GOVERNMENT HOUSE GROUNDS ADO-EKITI.

1. KEYNOTE ADDRESS DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE
GOVERNOR OF EKITI STATE, DR. KAYODE FAYEMI AT THE
OPENING CEREMONY OF A TWO- DAY TRAINING WORKSHOP
FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ON EFFECTIVE
IMPLEMENTATION OF MDGs PROJECTS HELD BETWEEN
THURSDAY 3RD AND FRIDAY 4TH MAY, 2012 AT LADY JIBOWU
HALL, GOVERNMENT HOUSE GROUNDS ADO-EKITI.
PROTOCOLS.
I am delighted to be here today to address you at the opening
ceremony of this 2-Training Workshop for Local Government
Officials on “Effective Implementation of Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs) Initiatives”.
In 2000, the Nations of the world came together and determined the
goals that need to be met for the improvement of the lives of the
people by the target date of 2015. These were encapsulated in the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), towards which varying
strategies and actions are directed all around the world in the race
to ensure the well-being of the people.
Twelve years on, and just three years away from the target date for
the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals,
comprehensive progress reviews show that despite the accelerated
actions taken by many countries of the world, especially in the
developing nations, a myriad of challenges still hinder the

2. actualization of the MDGs. Our dear nation, Nigeria is one of those
countries in this category. Some of the reasons for this pitfall
include insufficient commitment, inadequate resources, lack of
accountability, among others.
It is on record, however, that in recent since times, the Federal
Government has set up structures for implementing strategies
aimed at eradicating poverty and improving the lives of the citizens.
Some of the initiatives include the Conditional Grants Scheme
(CGS) projects; the Quick wins projects; social safety nets;
monitoring and evaluation of public expenditure on the MDGs,
among others. To build on the success of the State track of the
Conditional Grants Scheme (CGS), the programme was extended to
Local Governments in 2010 and Ekiti State was selected to house
the Zonal office of what is now known as Conditional Grants
Scheme - Local Government track.
Distinguished Participants, let me inform you that the MDGs –CGS
Scale up to Local Governments has earlier commenced in 113 Local
Governments Nationwide with 3 Local Governments chosen per
State. i.e one local government from each Senatorial District. The
pilot Local Governments in Ekiti State are Ikole, Ijero and Ekiti
East. The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on
MDGs (OSSAP-MDGs) Abuja had released a sum of N100 million

3. out of the N200 million meant for 2011 MDGs projects in each of
the three Local Governments. This amount represents 50%. Ekiti
State Government has paid its own contribution of N60 million
representing 30% while each of the pilot Local Government in the
State had equally paid its own matching fund of N40 million
representing 20% of the total fund. Contracts for the award of
projects in the pilot Local Governments shall commence as soon as
we receive the letter of “No Objection” from the Office of the Senior
Special Assistant to the President on MDGs (OSSAP-MDGs) Abuja.
This programme will be extended to the remaining 661 Local
Governments across the country including the remaining 13 Local
Governments in Ekiti State. The needs assessment exercise was
undertaken in the outstanding 13 Local Governments in February
2012 with the assistance of all of you in this hall. Similarly, the
Baseline Facilities Inventory exercise will commence in the
aforementioned 661 Local Governments Nationwide with effect from
the second week of May, 2012.
Let me state clearly here, that though Nigeria is penciled down as
one of those that will not make it to the 2015 ‘finish line’, Ekiti
State is determined to make poverty history in the Land of Honour
at the shortest possible time. This is manifested in the 8-Point
Agenda (8PA) of this administration which is crafted with the MDGs
as the reference point.

4. To operationalise the 8-Point Agenda, my administration has made
unprecedented commitments in all areas of life, and invested in
partnerships to ensure progress in the quality of our people’s lives.
We are focused on combating poverty and hunger, on improving
school enrolment and completion, in facilitating access to
healthcare, in fostering gender equality, in the health of our
environment, among others.
Distinguished participants, I commend you all for the zeal with
which you are rendering your selfless services in your respective
Local Governments to improve the lives of our people. Since local
governments are the closest to the people, you will agree with me
that the yearnings and aspirations of the people will be better
addressed at that level so that we are able to meet their needs more
promptly and as appropriate.
Let me at this juncture solicit a stronger partnership with all
stakeholders including the media and the civil society for effective
implementation of MDGs in Nigeria. It is the intention of this
Government to drive away poverty outside this domain. It is not an
easy task but with the cooperation of all we shall succeed in this
task.

5. Going by the pedigree of the resource persons at this workshop, I
am confident that participants shall gain tremendously from their
wealth of experience which will further assist in the effective
implementation of MDGs programmes at your respective the Local
Government Areas.
Ladies and gentlemen it is on this note that I declare this workshop
open and I wish you fruitful deliberations.
Thank you for your listening and God bless you.