The Delta State Ministry of Economic Planning has held a Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum for the Medium-Term Development Plan III (DSMTDP) 2024-2027, on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at the Prof. Chike Edozien Secretariat conference hall, Asaba.
Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Sonny Ekedayen, welcoming stakeholders, notably members of the Organized Private Sector (OPS), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and MDAs, described the exercise as a crucial step in the development of the Delta State Medium Term Development Plan III (2024-2027), adding that “the purpose of this meeting is to create awareness of the ongoing Medium Term Development Plan III and its significance and elicit feedback from stakeholders. This will ensure the legitimacy and successful implementation of the plan.”
Present at the brainstorming session included Senior Policy Adviser to the Governor, Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, Commissioner for Trade and Investments, Mr. Samuel Oligida, Chief Job Creation Officer of the state, Comrade Ifeanyi Egwuyenga, Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor and immediate past commissioner for Economic Planning, Dr. Barry Gbe, Deputy Accountant-General of the state, Mr. Innocent Okubor, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning, Mr. Frank Isume, among others.
A power point presentation of the Medium Term Development Plan 2024-2027 (first draft) by the consultant, Prof. Eric Eboh, elicited various submissions from stakeholders, with responses by the Commissioner for Economic Planning and the consultant to address the points raised.
Among other submissions, the Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Dr. Barry Gbe proposed that in line with the trending global variables in the human capital development index, inputs such as food and nutrition, labour and productivity should be added to education and healthcare as sub-themes under human capital development. Executive Director, Afro Centre for Development, Peace and Justice, Augusta Kenebou called for a sectoral development plan, to which the commissioner, Ekedayen, responded that such a plan will be drawn from the Medium Term Development Plan.
Among members of the National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) and Delta State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (DACCIMA) who made contributions included the CEO of NACCO Exception Ventures, Asaba, Prince Charles Obi who called for government ownership of farms to ensure greater food security in the state, Chief (Barr.) Peter Egbo, legal adviser to the PGs forum who sought greater inclusion of community-based projects, while other speakers dwelt on various parts of the document which contains 31 chapters.
Ekedayen drawing the attention of the audience to the significance of the exercise, said “you may also note that this plan robustly captures the tenets of His Excellency, the Governor, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda. This document comprehensively embodies the vision, strategies, policies and initiatives of the state government, together with customized frameworks for resource mobilization principles, policy/programme implementation and performance monitoring and evaluation.
“The importance of the Plan III cannot be over-emphasized, especially given our current socio-economic realities, such as inflation, poverty, unemployment, reduced wealth and revenue, insecurity, inadequate social services, infrastructure and others”, Ekedayen said, adding that “it is our hope that this plan will be able to address the afore-mentioned challenges and ultimately improve the lives of Deltans. Also, Ekedayen said the plan is a marketing tool of the state at the global stage.
When completed, the next and final stage would be the presentation of the plan to the State Executive Council (Exco) for approval.
