African Director of Macarthur Foundation, Dr. Kole Shettima has applauded the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development (PRIMORG) for putting grants from the Foundation into good use over the years.
During an official visit to PRIMORG’s newly completed office building in Pyakassa, Lugbe, FCT, Abuja on Wednesday, Shettima expressed excitement that PRIMORG has been able to build its own office space, noting that the development means the 29 per cent overhead cost from the Foundation’s grant has been well utilised. He added that owning an office building is “one of the most important things every organisation needs, and not worrying about annual rent, which usually for many people becomes a big problem.
“Having your own space is a very good idea, and I am happy that you (PRIMORG) have been able to use the resources that you have to have your own space as well.
“I wanted to say thank you very much for the opportunity to leave what I was doing to come to this place.
“From my perspective, 29 percent of the overhead cost is to sustain the organisation, to institutionalise the organisation, and to make sure that the organisation continues to thrive, giving all the challenges of fundraising and others. We are hoping that this is going to galvanize every one of you to continue to do the work you are doing.
“We are very happy and very excited about the work you are doing and the fact that you are in your own space”, Shettima stated.
PRIMORG’s Executive Director, Mr. Okhiria Agbonsuremi profusely thanked MacArthur Foundation for its unalloyed support to the organisation for about five years and counting.
Agbonsuremi said that PRIMORG’s new office building was made possible by support from the Chicago-based Foundation, while expressing the readiness of PRIMORG to continue to partner with the Foundation in the execution of more projects.
He praised Shettima and his colleagues at the MacArthur Foundation Africa Office for their support and assistance in ensuring PRIMORG met its objectives and deliverables.
“I am so happy that you (Shettima) found time to come because your schedule is very tight. It is the MacArthur Foundation funds that we have used. We are very excited and happy that within a short time, we were to get our own office complex
“We have internal joy that we have been able to apply the funds sustainably to promote our sustainability,
“It will help us work harder and move forward, and we will not be able to discount the support of the MacArthur Foundation and the Nigerian team in particular because we have had a lot of support from you.
“We are very excited that you are giving us all this support”, Agbonsuremi stated.
He also praised the Chairman of PRIMORG’s Board of Directors, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu; and other board members. He commended one of the board members, Mr. Ayo Ogundele for assisting the organisation in facilitating the acquisition of the new office building.
PRIMORG’s new office is at Plot C017 and C018 Phase 2 Kanma Homes, off Pyakassa Road, Lugbe Abuja, Nigeria.
The organisation was established in 2017. Its mandate included the promotion of good governance, accountability, participation and the strengthening of the media through community and media engagements, training and collaboration.
