By Uko Okon
Connected Development (CODE), a Non Governmental Organisation, has advised members of the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) to always communicate with community members before embarking on any project.
According to the organisation, this is to foster better relationships between the HCDT members and the community to ensure that projects are executed with the full understanding and cooperation of the people they are meant to benefit.
Mr Abdulazeez Hussani, Programmes Officer of CODE, stated this during a one-day Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) workshop engagement and was organised by CODE with support from Oxfam foundation in Uyo on Thursday.
He said the workshop was to build capacity for HCDT in project management and resource mobilisation to improve their communities.
The programme officer urged them to ensure proper management and utilisation of the three per cent given to them for community development.
Hussaini added that the one-day workshop was also on project and funds management, communication and grievance redress mechanism training to safeguard community rights around the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
“We are currently in Uyo to engage with Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) members, as well as Civil Society Organisations, Community-based Organisations, Settlors and government officials.
“This is to strengthen the capacity of Stakeholder’s engagement and to also build the capacity of HCDT in project management, resource mobilisation as well as communication which you saw through the conversation,” Hussaini said.
According to him, HCDT members should ensure transparency and take responsibility as leaders of their respective communities.
He told them that proper communication was the key to a better and robust engagement for seamless development of their communities.
Hussaini charged members of HCDT to go back to their communities equipped with knowledge from the workshop to serve the people better.
In his goodwill message, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Nsikak Ekong, commended CODE for organising the capacity building workshop focused on equipping host communities with skills in project and fund management.
Ekong, represented by Mr Idongesit Essen, director in the ministry of environment tasked HCDT members to engage transparently, manage resources effectively, and participate actively in governance processes of their communities.
He said the workshop was in line with the state government’s strong emphasis on grassroots empowerment, transparency, and sustainable community development.
Speaking to our Correspondent, one of the participants, Dr Umana Umana said the training workshop would enhance synergy in the host community development trust members to serve the people better.
Umana, who is a board member in Eket HCDT said the training has added value to members to go back and restrategise, identify project, communicate with the people and execute in a transparent manner for the benefit of all.
Participants at the training workshop were drawn from oil producing communities across the state.
