By Rita Michael
Bauchi
Bauchi based Non-governmental organisation (NGO), Development Exchange Centre (DEC), has expended N9 billion on provision of social services to 243 communities in 20 states of the federation in its 30 years of operation.
The Executive Director of DEC, Ms. Titi Yakubu, disclosed this during the
30th anniversary of the establishment of the organization in Bauchi.
She said that in three decades, 8,500 farmers were supported with
agricultural inputs worth N110 million, while 47,000 trees were planted within communities of its operation to
check desertification.
She said as part of efforts to promote economic well-being of women and the vulnerable groups, DEC had established 117 micro-finance branches with about 125,841 active borrowers across the 20 states.
On Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Mrs. Yakubu disclosed
that DEC had 955 toilets, trained
3,000 hygiene club kids and constructed 78 water points.
“We are seriously concerned about the poor health situation in the rural areas and
this informed our decision to construct the 78 water points that now provide 160,000 people with access to safe water” she said.
On education, the DEC’s executive director enumerated the organization’s
achievements to include facilitating enrollment of 7,392 girl-child into schools, training of 3,000 women under the
adult literacy scheme and equipping of 2,600 women
with vocational skills.
On politics, Ms. Yakubu said, “our organization has trained 1,200 female politicians and 50 community-based
organizations (CBOs) on conflict-based management. DEC believes that it is only
when peace reigns that development can take place”.
She thanked both pioneer and current staff of DEC for establishing an organization
that has impacted positively in the lives of millions of Nigerians, saying, “the legacy of socio-economic development which you have put in place will remain
indelible in the minds of beneficiaries of these services”.
In her remark, the special guest of honour who is also the wife of the state governor, Aisha Mohammed Abubakar, commended DEC management for its innovative ideas and enviable achievements in education, healthcare, water
and sustainable environment, good governance and peace building, microfinance
and institutional development.