Delta State Ministry of Economic Planning has held an all-important workshop for the validation of inputs submitted by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for the Third Delta State Medium Term Development Plan, being part of an approach never adopted before, thus making it a huge innovation over the 2016-2019 and 2020-2023 development plans.
Yesterday’s Validation Workshop was a follow-up to the July 27 Orientation Workshop organized for MDA focal persons, where they were given necessary sensitization, including templates for MDAs to generate inputs and make submissions as part of preparations for the Third Delta State Medium Term Development Plan. As at the time of filing this report, it was gathered that inputs of about 90 MDAs have been received, while the remaining ones are expected to make their submissions soonest.
Director of Economic and Social Sector, Mrs. Azuka Monye, on behalf of the Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Sonny Ekedayen welcomed the MDAs to the validation workshop, held yesterday at Prof. Chike Edozien Secretariat, Asaba. Alongside Monye was the Consultant, Prof. Eric Eboh, an Executive Assistant (EA), Engr. Smart Ikem, Director of Statistics, Nkechi Maduemezie, Director, Planning, Environment and General Administration, Mrs. Nkechi Atogun, among other directors in the ministry.
The modalities for the validation workshop included seeking clarifications, asking for additional information to fill any observed gaps, seeking greater understanding where necessary as well as getting the MDAs to throw more light on their submissions.
They were five groups of MDAs. First to be called upon was the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, whose presentation by Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Godwin Okoro was highly commended. Next was the Ministry of Agriculture. Questions raised included the consistency of their presentation with the existing policy 2021-2026, total number of functional tractors in the state, capacity building for tractor repairs and maintenance, average fertilizer use, extension worker-farmer ratio (an abysmal 1:5, 000 farmers), which led to call for digital extension services as well as need for farmer census and agricultural insurance.The Consultant, Prof. Eboh said the Delta State Third Medium Term Development Plan is “one with a difference”. He described the workshop as a “second layer validation” to be followed by a drafting process, then a wider consultation with stakeholders when the first drafting is ready.
When it was the turn of the Directorate of Project Monitoring and Audit, Engr. Smart Ikem called on the focal person to be open about their challenges to enable them make an advocacy for the directorate in the development plan. As for Ministry of Science and Technology, the focal persons were asked to fill in gaps on ICT digital training for youths, programme for e-commerce and digital marketing. The ministry was asked to interface with the Job and Wealth Creation Bureau to seek ways to address issues above. As for the Bureau, it was noticed that “there is nothing on training on ICT for youths”, while a call was made for a job marketplace to connect job seekers and employers.
Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Ministry of Youth Development, Mrs. Ufuoma Obiemenem, when questioned on the number of youth organizations in the state and what national youth policy they are adopting, said with the assumption of duty of the new commissioner, the ministry is on the verge of presenting to the State Executive Council, a Delta State Youth Policy.
With the successful outcome of yesterday’s Validation workshop, the drafting process of the Third Delta State Medium Term Development Plan is expected to commence.
