By Patience Toge
The Southwest Development Authority (SOWEDA) has donated a water scheme worth 45 million francs CFA to Inokun village in Eyumujock Sub-division in Manyu Division, Southwest Region.
Speaking during the handing-over ceremony, the General Manager of SOWEDA, Dr. Andrew Eneme, said the water scheme was realized thanks to funding which SOWEDA received from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER) under the 2015 public investment budget.
Dr. Eneme also disclosed that the water scheme project had cost 45 million francs CFA.
He said though there wasn’t a management committee put in place to manage the water project, one would soon be instituted.
For his part, the Mayor of Inokun, Julius Mpot, showered praises on the General Manager of SOWEDA and thanked him for bringing such a gift of life to the people of Inokun.
“Water is life,” Mpot said, adding that the water scheme will solve the pressing problems in the villages.
Out of the 66 villages that make up the EyumujockSub-division, Mpotsaid 80% suffer from water crises.
“This is a precious liquid so we should manage it with a lot of jealousy and proper care should be given to the water tap. It is not enough for you to come and wash your motorcycles, clothes and legs, rather treat it with care so that it can last long,” Mpot exhorted the villagers.
The Mayor appealed to SOWEDA to do even more so as to gradually meet the needs of the other surrounding villages.
Officiating over the donation ceremony, the Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) for Manyu, Peter Tie Nde, said that in less than two years, he has accompanied the General Manager of SOWEDA to inaugurate similar water schemes in some surrounding villages in Eyumujock; proof enough that the General Manager has the people of Eyumujock at heart.
The SDO emphasized that the Inokun water project was a government project which had been realized through SOWEDA, therefore the villagers should not be deceived by any individual or politician that they donated the water scheme.
Government has fulfilled its own social responsibility,the SDO said, it is now time for the community to take care of the water project.
“Use the water scheme with an eye toward the future,” Tie Nde cautioned the people of Inokun.
He also promised them his assistance in the management of the water scheme in case they run into any difficulties.
SOWEDAwas created in 1987 with the vision to meet the developmental needs and disenclave some of the rural communities of the Southwest Region, and improve the livelihood of the people.
