Aiyedatiwa inaugurates steering committee on e-Heart initiative

.. Says scheme to enhance use of electricity in health, education, agric, transport

As part of efforts to enhance governance and policy implementation in various sectors, Ondo State Governor, Dr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has inaugurated a Steering Committee for the e-HEART initiative.

The Scheme, which is in partnership with the Federal Government and the private sector, aims to enhance the use of electricity in various sectors, including health, education, agriculture and transport to drive development.

A statement issued on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, said that inauguration took place at the Governor’s office on Friday.

Aiyedatiwa noted that the committee is expected to midwife the implementation of the initiative, adding “Ondo State is one of the first states in Nigeria to embrace and implement the initiative which will be used to drive rural development through electricity. The program is specifically and deliberately set up to cater for the welfare of rural dwellers across the state”.

According to him, ” With States now empowered to generate and regulate electricity in their domain, Ondo is already taking steps towards improving power supply to its people. I urge the committee to come up with a good template that will drive the implementation of the initiative”

Speaking earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Power, Engr. Johnson Alabi, who doubles as the Chairman of the committee, noted that the e-HEART program is an initiative promoted by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to enhance sustainable electricity in rural areas.

Alabi, who said the initiative will be funded at the ratio of 60:30:10 by the partners, described it as a high impact program that will enhance the social economic development of the state, commending the Governor for his swift support for the initiative.

Speaking on behalf of other members of the committee, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Alhaji Ibrahim Olabode Yusuf, appreciated the Governor for his efforts in driving the State forward, pledging that the committee would work hard to ensure that the project becomes a success.