The Delta State Local Government Service Commission in collaboration with Westwood Plus Services has trained 72 Community Development Officers ,Inspectors and Social welfare Officers serving in Delta North Senatorial district, on “Strengthening Community Development and Social Welfare Services for Sustainable Grassroot Growth”
The Commission Chairman, Hon.Joseph Otirhue represented by the 1st member, representing Delta North Senatorial district, Architect Anslem Nwokeyem, called on the government and stakeholders to strengthen Community development which is fundamental to achieving sustainable growth at the grassroots level.
Flagging off the 2-day seminar held at the Conference hall, cluster ‘C’, 6th floor of Prof. Chike Edozien Secretariat, Asaba, Otirhue said, communities across the nation face increasing pressures ranging from economic hardship and inequality to unemployment, social exclusion and inadequate access to essential services.
Therefore there is an urgent need to strengthen Community development and social welfare interventions in order to sustain growth at the grassroots.
Speaking further, Otirhue said community development is a people-centered approach that empowers individuals and groups to take collective actions for the betterment of their lives. Furthermore, he said social welfare services provide safety nets that protect the vulnerable,the disadvantaged and the marginalized from falling further into deprivation.
He noted that these two pillars create the foundation upon which inclusive,equitable and lasting progress can be built.
While addressing the participants, the Chairman said true development begins when Communities are given a voice in shaping the programmes and policies that affect them adding that interventions fail often times ,when they are designed without adequate input from the people they intend to serve.
In order to strengthen Community development, the Commission Boss said, the government and all stakeholders must shift to participatory models that emphasize ownership, accountability and self reliance.
The Chairman enjoined all participants not to see the seminar as just a gathering of ideas but a springboard for actions adding that the future of sustainable development rest not in grand projects alone but in the everyday lives of ordinary people at the grassroots.
He stressed that when communities are empowered,social welfare systems were robust and local economies were thriving, then sustainable growth is inevitable.
He therefore encouraged the participants to commit to strengthening community development and social welfare services so that the grassroots will grow and flourish in the spirit of equity, resilience and sustainability.
The seminar which was well attended with seasoned Resource persons had topics such as ” Building Partnerships for Sustainable Community Growth, Principles and Approaches to Effective Community Development and Strengthening Social Welfare Services for Grassroots Impact amongst others.
