AE-FUNAI CENTRE FOR COMMUNITY AND EXTENSION SERVICES SET TO PARTNER AFIKPO SOUTH LGA IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The Centre for Community and Extension Services (CCES), Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi state, is set to partner Afikpo South Local Government Area in community development. The partnership is geared towards delivering projects and programmes that will benefit the rural dwellers in the areas of education, health, agriculture and others.

Making this known recently during a courtesy call on the Executive Chairman, Afikpo South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Dr. Eni Uduma Chima, the Acting Director of the Centre, Dr. Christy Chukwu, noted that the envisaged programmes and projects will have direct impact on the well-being of the members of the benefitting communities.


Rep. of the Acting Director, Centre for Community and Extension Services, Mrs. Janerita Peters in a handshake with the Executive Chairman, Afikpo South LGA, Dr. Eni Uduma Chima during the visit
She therefore called for synergy between the University and the Local Government Area to ensure that the impact of the partnership is felt in the selected rural communities, adding that the programmes and projects will give the communities a sense of belonging, considering the gaps in basic social amenities in those areas.



Continuing, the Director who was represented at the event by Mrs. Janerita Peters, said the vision of the Centre is to boost the University’s relationship with all the communities in Ebonyi state and beyond, to carry out programmes and projects in form of outreaches in the areas of health, education, agriculture, human capital development, among others.

“Let me state emphatically that each project we will implement in any community in the state will be based on the outcome of our feasibility studies, because every community is peculiar on its own. And the catalyst behind the implementation of our project is our burning desire to cause a change and to make lasting impact based on the peculiarity of each benefitting community


Rep. of the Acting Director, Centre for Community and Extension Services, Mrs. Janerita Peters speaking at the venue of the event
“We have chosen Thursday, 11th November, 2021, as a tentative date for the implementation of this project in your community. We will need a pilot school and a contact person for the implementation of the project as 5 representatives from 4 different schools will be in attendance during the event.”



While responding, the Executive Chairman, Afikpo South Local Government Area, Dr. Chima, commended the University for establishing the Centre for Community and Extension Services, adding that the initiative would further strengthen the institution’s relationship with communities across the state.

He expressed the readiness of his administration to partner with the Centre for the actualization of its proposed programmes and projects, noting that the choice of Ekoli Edda for the first phase of the programme was worthy of commendation.


L-R: Mr. Abdullazeez Taofiq, Mr. Agacheta Obisike Chimdindu, Executive Chairman, Afikpo LGA, Dr. Eni Uduma Chima, rep. of the Ag. Director, Centre for Community and Extension Services, Mrs. Janerita Peters, Mrs. Chinyere Asuzu and Mr. Okiri Oghenero


“I am happy this morning to receive a delegation from AE-FUNAI. Am more excited when I consider the packages they have brought to us in Afikpo South LGA. We are delighted to be chosen, to benefit from the packages you have for the different communities within the state, and the assurance we give to you from Afikpo South is that all that is required to do to partner with you, shall not be found wanting.



“The content of your message is so pleasing to us, especially when it pertains to assistance to the communities in the areas of Agriculture, education, among others. They are in line with what we are already doing and desire to have in our community. So, choosing Ekoli Edda community, which is also, my own community, makes it more interesting for me.”

The Council helmsman further called on the Centre to galvanize the process that would lead to the eventual takeover of the newly built and furnished hospital at Ebunwana community by the University.

“’There is a Tertiary Health Facility. It is supposed to be a branch of AE-FUNAI hospital. The way the former Ebonyi State Teaching Hospital has its extension service at General Hospital Iboko. But this one was built new

“The buildings were built for the purpose of having a branch of AE-FUNAI Teaching Hospital. It was attracted by Senator Sonni Ogbuoji and sited in Ebunwana. It has been built, furnished and equipped and set. It is staff that are not there.

“So, I appeal to the Centre for Community and Extension Services, since they are also interested in the health sector, let them make this one functional. Let it be a starting point for greater relationship and their intervention in the health needs of our people.”