By Sunday Kolawole Adeyanju

The Ondo State Water Corporation has trained its Monitoring and Evaluation officers and other stakeholders on effective project monitoring and evaluation to improve water supply and sanitation services across the state.

The three-day capacity-building programme, held in Akure, focused on Project Monitoring, Evaluation, Adaptation and Learning (MEAL), with emphasis on strengthening the capacity of officers to track project implementation and assess their impact on communities.

The programme was organised against the backdrop of the need for effective monitoring of water infrastructure projects to ensure that government interventions translate into improved services for residents.

Speaking at the programme, the Commissioner for Water Resources and Public Sanitation, Ayodele Akande, said the training was designed to equip officers with the skills required to effectively monitor projects and determine whether they were achieving their intended objectives.

The Monitoring and Evaluation Consultant to the project, Dr. Opeyemi Adejuwon, said the programme went beyond theoretical knowledge, providing participants with practical approaches to identifying challenges, analysing project performance and developing appropriate solutions.

The training is considered significant as the state intensifies efforts to reform and improve urban water supply and sanitation.

One of the major interventions in this regard is the Akure Water Supply and Sanitation Project, which is aimed at improving access to reliable water and sanitation services in the state capital.

Participants at the training said the knowledge and skills acquired would enhance their capacity to effectively monitor projects, identify implementation challenges early and ensure that interventions deliver the desired results.

The stakeholders stressed that sustained monitoring and evaluation would promote accountability, improve resource utilisation and support the successful implementation of ongoing and future water projects.

They noted that stronger monitoring mechanisms would ultimately contribute to sustainable water supply and improved sanitation services for residents across Ondo State.