Keffeso Trust reports governance gains, 78 percent project execution in 2025

The KEFFESO Host Communities Development Trust has recorded a significant progress in governance, financial oversight, infrastructure delivery and community development in 2025, with its project portfolio achieving 78 percent execution.

Presenting the Board of Trustees’ report at the Trust’s 2025 Annual General Meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the board secretary, Dr. Matthew Sele-Epri, said the board strengthened oversight through regular meetings, committee reviews and monitoring of the approved work plan and budget.

“The board provided direction and exercised oversight through its meetings, committees and engagements with the Trust’s statutory and operational structures,” Sele-Epri said.

He said the Trust also strengthened the oversight roles of its programmes oversight, monitoring and evaluation committee; advocacy, communications, partnership and stakeholder management committee; and finance, accounts audit and risk management committee.

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He said that progress was recorded in procurement, recruitment, grievance management, stakeholder engagement, project delivery, HSE standards, ethics, budgeting and financial management, as Forvis Mazars was appointed external auditor, while the Trust completed its registration with the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria. Vetiva Capital and FBNQuest were also appointed to manage approved naira and dollar reserve investments.

Sele-Epri said the board was satisfied that management operated substantially within its mandate, work plan and budget, while noting the need for improved information flow, performance appraisal, early risk escalation, reporting, timely delivery, prudent resource use, community participation and sustainability.

The board subsequently endorsed the management implementation report and audited financial statements for presentation in the AGM.Chairman of the BoT, HRH Moses Theophilus, said 2025 was marked by institutional consolidation and measurable progress across the 11 Keffeso host communities.

He disclosed that the Trust supported 258 education, health and water-service personnel, profiled 229 persons living with disabilities, and enabled 40 young people to access opportunities under the Federal Government’s technical and vocational education initiative.

It also facilitated scholarship, employment and contractor-registration opportunities through industry relationships.