The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has commended Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State over his development initiatives, saying that he placed his priorities right.

Speaking in Awka, Tuesdayat the mid-year review meeting organised by the Anambra State Ministry of Economic Planning, Budget and Development Partners in collaboration with the UN Family, UNICEF Country Field Officer, Enugu, Dr. Ibrahim Conteh, said that Governor Obiano is one of the Governors that pay counterpart funding appropriately and at the right time.

He observed that his development plans creates better results even as the state has made some achievements in every stride.

Conteh said: “That is one unique thing about the state government and why we are here working with them. “The state has made some achievements in every stride, but it can still look at other ways for more advancement; that’s to think outside the box.”

While listing the core improvement strategies to include: capacity development, knowledge management, evidence generation, integration and cross sectional linkages, among other things, UNICEF described the Obiano government as able leadership,

Earlier, the state government had said it would not renege in providing its counterpart contributions to the development agencies in the state.

It said that the state was in partnership with no fewer than 24 of such agencies.

Addressing participants, the state Commissioner for Economic Planning, Budget and Development Partners, Mr. Mark Okoye said the agencies had played critical roles in the development of the state as well as charged the tempo for sustenance.

He identified provision of security in the area by the state government as the attraction for investors to the state adding that the state did not suffer the economic recession that hit the country in 2016 because of sound planning.

The Commissioner added, “We didn’t suffer the recession that hit this country in 2016 because we put stimulus packages in place by creating jobs, funding small scale businesses, activating the Agriculture sector and above all, providing adequate security that energized investments. Anambra economy is boisterous.”