The chairman of Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area (LGA), Enugu State, Eric Odo, has officially launched the Igbo-Etiti Development and Humanitarian Initiative (IDHI) to drive inclusive growth in the community.

Mr Odo described the initiative as a coordinated framework aimed at repositioning the council area for sustainable and inclusive development.

Speaking during the launch on Tuesday at Ogbede, Mr Odo said that the IDHI was designed deliberately to address the pressing developmental and humanitarian needs of the people.

He explained that IDHI was conceived to align government policies with community aspirations, private sector participation and diaspora engagement, adding that the goal was to improve the lives of the people.

“The initiative is anchored on the understanding that governance must transcend routine administration and deliberately address security, human capital development, and social welfare, among others. The IDHI is built on key pillars, including homeland security, education, infrastructure development, health, water and sanitation, youth and social empowerment, gender-based interventions, and sports development.

“Security remains the foundation of development; under IDHI, we are determined to strengthen community-based security through collaboration with statutory agencies, traditional institutions, and vigilance groups. We will prioritise equipping the security operatives with necessary tools and train them regularly to enable them to secure all nooks and crannies of Igbo-Etiti.

“The initiative will focus on education through rehabilitation of school infrastructure, teacher capacity-building, and targeted support for indigent students. The IDHI will drive strategic interventions in rural roads, market electrification and digital connectivity. We are also creating a well-structured avenue for diaspora investment, encouraging our brothers and sisters abroad to partner in transforming Igbo-Etiti,” he said.

On his part, the chairman of the IDHI Board of Trustees (BOT), retired Maj. Gen. Victor Ezeugwu, pledged his commitment and that of the board to ensuring that the initiative succeeds, adding that it would go a long way in the development of Igbo-Etiti.

According to him, any money donated towards the initiative will not only be judiciously used for the development of the area but also be accounted for.

Also, the founder of Maduka University, Sam Onyishi, promised to join hands with others to develop the council area, which he said had blessed him significantly.

Mr Onyishi, also the chief launcher of the event, commended the council chairman for conceiving what he called a forward-looking and people-driven development model.

“I am impressed by the vision behind this initiative. It creates a strong platform for the people of Igbo-Etiti to take charge of their own development,” he said.

The highpoint of the event was the unveiling of the IDHI five-year strategic development plan.

The event also witnessed the presentation of awards to individuals, including the vice chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Simon Ortuanya.

(NAN)