Harmony Centre partners with Women United for Economic Empowerment (WUEE) on an UNDEF-funded project titled: Strengthening good governance and Democratic processes at the Local Government level.

Harmony Centre Strengthens the capacity of 1040 Teenagers, Youth, Women, Men, Elderly, Physically Challenged, Traditional Rulers, Political Class, Opinion Leaders and Clergy on Civic Education, Good Governance and Democratic Processes at Local Level: CHHELD Staff made contacts with target communities leaderships. Project advocacy/introductory letters was dispatched to key stakeholders to inform them of the civic education project and solicit their buy-in to mobilize their communities to attend the sensitization training. The community leadership of all the five selected communities namely; Obuama (Harrys town), Usokun, Degema Community (Atala), Degema Consulate (Ipokuma) and Mgbetokuru-kiri, welcomed the project and promised to give their full support to the project.

CHHELD team led by the executive director Comr. Dandyson Harry Dandyson held advocacy visits to introduce the project and solicit for buy-in from community/church leaderships which was geared towards mobilizing the community for the sensitization training in their respective communities, however we were informed by the various community leadership in the five target communities that as a result of the COVID-19, communities in Degema LGA do not hold community gathering of any sort and we were advised to make use of the church platform as that is the only avenue for community members to gather in large numbers.

The civic education sensitization training was originally scheduled for five communities but rather it was held in thirteen churches across the five communities. None of the communities agreed to gather the community as a result of strict adherence to Covid 19 protocols and so we resulted to carry out the training in major big churches in these aforementioned communities.

Names of churches/ Number of beneficiaries:

USOKUN COMMUNITY:

  Usokun council of chiefs/Opinion leaders: 18th/10/2020, 14 males and 6 females were trained.

  New life Baptist Church Usokun: 18th/10/2020, 24 females and 16 males attended the training.

   African church Usokun: 18/10/2020, 12 females and 8 males were present during the training.

DEGEMA CONSULATE (OGURUAMA):

  St, James Anglican Church: 04/10/2020,66 females and 14 Males were present at the training.

  Degema consulate Community Development Committee: 12 females and 8 Males were trained.

  Ebenezer African Church: 6th/12/2020, 22 females and 18 males were trained.

OBUAMA (HARRYSTOWN):

   First A.M.E Zion Church: 6th/09/2020, 76 females and 68 males attended the training

   Agape Baptist Church: 20th/09/2020, 58 females and 42 males were trained.

   ST. Johns African Church: 13th/09/2020, 47 females and 49 males were trained.

              DEGEMA COMMUNITY (ATALA):

   First Baptist Church: 13th/09/2020, 39 females and 38 males were present during the training.

   St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church: 13th/09/2020, 45 females and 38 males were trained.

   New Church: 04/10/2020, 99 females and 101 males were trained.

Outcome/Results: The Community Development Committee of Degema Consulate approached    CHHELD and stated that despite being the CDC in charge of the LGA headquarters they are yet to see any meaningful development in the community from the elected representatives and inquired if the community charter of demands if drafted would help change their present situation. The chairman of the CDC Mr. Oputamunoye Harry, inquired if the organization (CHHELD) will be willing to help them in organizing the process and procedure needed to enable them draft a community charter of demands and the executive director of CHHELD assured them that once they are ready he will deploy some staff to help them achieve it.

One major outcome of this project was the fact that it brought to fore the need to continue advocating and sensitize community members on the tenets and functions of the local government and the need for them to demand for good governance at the local government level from their representatives.

Power is in the hands of the people, Realization of this fact will go a long way to bringing about positive and people focused development to the grassroots.

Harmony Centre strongly believes that intense and continuous enlightenment of the populace on the duties, functionality of the LGA and their role as tax payers will go a long way in curbing corruption and executive rascality.

Executive Director Comr. Dandyson, CHHELD Team, The Vicar and Members of St. James Anglican Church Ipokuma Degema LGA after a training session titled: Strengthening Good Governance and Democratic processes at the Local Government level.
CHHELD team and Members of St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church, Udekema, Degema LGA where 45 females and 38 males were trained for the purpose of Strengthening Good Governance and Democratic processes at the Local Government level.

Usokun community council of chiefs, Opinion leaders and elders present at Usokun community hall in Degema LGA during the training on Strengthening Governance & Democratic processes at the Local Government Level.

The Executive Director Harmony Centre Mr Dandyson at New Church Udekema Community Degema LGA, Rivers State conducting the training on Strengthening Governance & Democratic processes at the Local Government Level in Nigeria.
Members of New Church Udekema Community Degema Rivers State after the training on Strengthening Governance & Democratic processes at the Local Government Level in Nigeria.

CHHELD team and Members of First A.M.E Zion Church Obuama (Harrystown) Degema LGA Rivers State. After the training on Strengthening Governance & Democratic processes at the Local Government Level in Nigeria.

CHHELD Team member Mrs. Mina Franklyn addressing the members of First A.M.E Zion Church Obuama Degema LGA Rivers State about Strengthening Governance & Democratic processes at the Local Government Level in Nigeria.

The Executive Director Harmony Centre Mr Dandyson at ST. Johns African Church Obuama, Degema LGA Rivers State facilitating a training on strengthening good Governance & Democratic processes at the Local Government Level in Nigeria.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *