NGO: Government Bureaucracy Hindering CSR Projects in Nigeria

Gilbert Ekugbe

A non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Africa Education Aid for Development Network (AFEADEN), has expressed concerns over the prevalence of government bureaucracies hindering efforts by NGOs to carry out corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects in the country.

The founder, AFEADEN, Judith Obi-Ikpa, called on the federal government to reduce the bureaucracies involved in getting approvals to carry out community development programmes, warning that it hinders and discourages many private institutions to lend a helping hand.

Speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration of renovated blocks of classroom in Oworoshoki Nursery and Primary School, the founder stated the urgent need for the bureaucracies to be addressed, saying that it took the NGO a long time to get approvals for carrying out the project.

Reaffirming AFEADEN’s commitment to educational development in the country, the NGO donated over 200 bags and exercise books to pupils of Oworoshoki Nursery and Primary School.

The move according to the NGO was on the heels of its vision to ensure that children go to school and stay in school.

She, however, explained that the role of Public Private Partnership (PPP) in societal development cannot be overemphasised.

“The government alone cannot do it all and this is why the handshake between public and private is very important.

“We are also working other classrooms too as we are taking one after the other. Our vision is to ensure that children are able to go to school and stay in school.

“To stay in school they have to have the resources, the environment has to be conducive enough for learning,” she said.

“We were moved by the deplorable state of the classrooms, so we mobilised actions to ensure that we give the school a face-lift. According to one of the teachers in the school, the last time any upgrade was done in the school was way back ten years ago,” she bemoaned.

According to her, the cost implication for carrying out the project gulped about N890,000 aside from other supports rendered by like-minded individuals.

Also speaking, the Project Manager, AFEADEN, Chijindum Ikpa, said the NGO was elated to carry out the life-changing project for the children, adding that every child must get access to quality education in the most conducive and environment for learning.

“We want to commend the AFEADEN for the opportunity to partner. We are very grateful that we could come out in mass to support the project. We are really happy to do this for the children and giving them a conducive environment to study. We are happy to be here and we will keep doing more as the Lord keeps blessing us,” he said.

On his part, the Parent Forum Chairman, Oworoshoki Nursery and Primary School, Mr. Mufutau Bolaji, extolled NGO’s efforts in renovating and upgrading the facilities of the school while also seeking increased PPPs to develop more schools begging for development in the community.

The Head Teacher, Oworoshoki Nursery and Primary School, Mrs. Oyalabu Adeola, thanked AFEADEN for the face-lift impact on the school, acknowledging the fact that the federal government alone cannot meet the growing demand for public schools in different communities.