Activities / Status of project implementation
Introduction
The Department of State, U.S Embassy Abuja Nigeria under the Ambassador’s Special Self- Help Program of 2021 assisted Affirmative Action Initiative for Women (NCAA) with the sum of Ten thousand US Dollars which is equivalence of Four Million and fifty thousand (4,050,000) naira only to renovate 5 classroom block at Community Primary School Isigwe Ugbawka, construct 3 VIP toilets, pay salaries for the program manager, pay contractual fees for the contractors and for part payment of Local transport, paint the school, roof the school and purchase Educational materials such as White board, markers and Dusters for Teachers.
The grant was paid in two instalments, three million, two hundred and forty million on the 15th of November, 2021 and eight hundred and ten naira on 5th February, 2022 respectively.
The project has been completed and handed over to the Nkanu East LGA Chairman who was ably represented by the Education Secretary of the LGA on the 18th of March for learning to commence in the renovated classroom block
Pre- Implementation Phase
Inception Meeting with the relevant stakeholder (Nov. 2021)
Before the start of the work, stakeholders meeting was held at the school premises with the LGA Education officers, Community members, School based Management Committees (SBMC), PTAs, President –General (PG) of the Community, contractual service providers, teachers, site Engineer, representative of women Groups and the program officer of NCAA. The essence meeting was to introduce the project, seek the buy-in of the stakeholders, share roles and responsibilities among the people. The outcome of the meeting was the formation of the Project Implementation Committee (PIC) made up 5 persons including the PG, Chairman SBMC, head Teacher of the school, Site Engineer and NCAA program officer. The head of the committee was the head teacher of the school, Mrs. Egemba.
Over 100 pupils (70 females and 30 males) and 10 (9 females and 1 male) were sensitized on WASH, (Open defecation) and on COVID 19 Protocols. This was to prepare them for the
relocation to a new place of study as well as to stop incessant open- defecation and urination around the Classrooms.
Implementation Phase
Clearing of site
The implementation stage of the project started with the mobilization of contractors that will provide services, vendors and accepting quotations from vendors, masons and carpenters. This was followed by budget defense to choose the appropriate cost.
Submission of quotations
Quotations were submitted by various tenders to the committee and work started in earnest.
Roofing Stage
Painting and Finishing work
End of Project Phase
Handing over of the school to Government ( LGA Education Authority)
The project renovation of 5 classroom block and construction of 3 VIP toilet facilities has been completed and handed over to the LGA chairman of Nkanu East who was ably represented by the Education Secretary, HOD Education officer in the Development Centre (Mrs. Grace Nnaji),, Vice Chairman School Based Management Committee, Deputy President General, women Group leaders, PTAs and community members. The key of the renovated school was handed over to the Education Secretary who in turn handed them over to the head teacher (Mrs. Comfort Ezemba) of the School.
Front view of the renovated school
The handing over ceremony was witnessed by the members of the Affirmative Action Initiative for Women ( NCAA), Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre(CIRDDOC) Nigeria, ably represented by Christie Nwankwo and team of Journalists from DREAM FM headed by Lilian Nwonyeali, Catholic Women Organization, Anglican and Pentecostal women association leaders and PTA and Teachers from school.
STATUS OF PROJECT
The project has been completed and handed over to government and Community as stated in the proposal document. The mandate of NCAA was to renovate 7 classroom block, dig well water and construct 4 VIP toilet facility, the provision of well water, tiling of the classrooms were not met because of the inflationary measures. Two classrooms were merged in order to observe social distancing among the pupils of the school.
Successes of project implementation
The work has been completed and handed over within time frame of 5 months as against what was stipulated in the proposal document. The underlisted strategies were put in place to facilitate the timely delivery of the project. The children are now in their classrooms
Effective planning and review meetings and control organized by relevant stakeholders for the project helped the project to continue despite the fact that the community did not provide their counter-part contributions, but they showed ownership of the project by ensuring safety of the materials bought.
Clearly written and signed Agreement on the mode of payment between NCAA and the contractors. Each contractor was to receive his/her payments in three installments (60%, 20% and 20%).
5-member committee inaugurated for the project has proved effective towards the timely service delivery by the contractors.
Competent site engineer with requisite skills and knowledge in construction and renovation helped the contractors to be on course.
Availability of funding support from U.S.Embassy under the Ambassador’s Special Self- Help program of 2021 has helped NCAA to achieve their goals. Kudos to Adela Renna (Grant officer)
Problems of project implementation
Gross under –estimation of the project – the total number of windows in the school was 36 instead of 14 as budgeted. The damage in the school was much more compared to what it is when proposed.
Inflation/high cost of labour and materials. Between the proposed time and the release period, there was a wide and noticeable variance in the cost and price of labour and materials. For instance, a bag of cement sold at N2, 500 at the proposing stage has increased to N5, 000, labour charged at N108, 000 by a mason has increased to N380, 000 which is more than 100% increase.
See below the brief summary of the actual budgetUS Embassy Ambassador’s Special Self- Help Project 2021 Final financial reports
| Dates | Amount received in Dollars | Amount received in Naira |
| 9/11/2021 | 8,000 | 3, 240,000 |
| Expenditures Nov- Dec.2021 | – | – |
| 18/11/2021 | 143 | 58,100 |
| 23/11/2021 | 889 | 360,000 |
| 3/12/2021 | 54 | 22,000 |
| 3/12/2021 | 94 | 38,000 |
| 8/12/2021 | 248 | 100,500 |
| 8/12/2021 | 7 | 3,000 |
| 8/12/2021 | 390 | 157,800 |
| 11/12/2021 | 464 | 188,000 |
| 15/12/2021 | 198 | 80,000 |
| Sub –Total | 2,487 | 1,007,400.00 |
| Jan.-2022 | ||
| 11/1/2022 | 49,000 | |
| 11/1/2022 | 134,000 | |
| 13/1/2022 | 270,000 | |
| 26/1/2022 | 429,000 | |
| Sub Totals | 2,179 | 882, 5000 |
| Feb- March, 2022 | – | – |
| 18/2/2022 | 322,200 | |
| 2/3/2022 | 21,000 | |
| 5/3/2022 | 36,000 | |
| 10/3/2022 | 21,000 | |
| 15/3/2022 | 50,400 | |
| 16/3/2022 | 11,400 | |
| 23/3/2022 | 16,500 | |
| Sub Total | 1,183 | 479,000 |
| Grand totals for items/materials | 5,849 | 2,368,900 |
| 2nd Tranche | 2,000 | 810,000 |
| Balance Brought forward | 2000+2151= | |
| Contractual services | ||
| Fee for the window | 390,000 | |
| Carpenters fee | 100,000 | |
| Manson fee | 280,000 | |
| Site Engr | 200,000 | |
| Door | 186,000 | |
| Contractor | 200,000 | |
| Painter | 52,000 | |
| Sub totals | 3,477 | 1,408,000 |
| Program Officer | 300,000 | |
| Transport | 85,100 | |
| Totals | 951 | 385,100 |
| Grand Totals | 1,793,100 | |
| Grand total for all items | 10,277 | 4,162,000 |
| Total grant received from US Embassy | 10,000 | 4,050,000 |
| Contribution by NCAA | 277 | 112,000 |
Gallery file containing more pictorial explanation of the renovation process