PROACT project records 63% women participation in 39,000 households within 3 Kebbi LGAs – OXFAM

PROACT project records 63% women participation in 39,000 households within 3 Kebbi LGAs – OXFAM

The Country Director, Oxfam International Nigeria, Mr Constant Tchona, said that the Proact Resilient Action Project had reached over 39,000 households across three focal local government areas of Kebbi.

Tchona disclosed this in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday at the final review meeting of the project funded by European Union and Oxfarm.

He said,”The five year project amounts to close to over 2,000 days of series of efforts in mobilising people against poverty, using a transformative resilient approach.

“As we await the technical evaluation of the final outcome, I have no doubt in my mind that we have all contributed towards systemic improvement in the livelihood of the people; and the government of the state and local governments level have become more energised, driven inclusive development of many initiatives across the state.

“The project has been able to reach over 39,000 households across the three of focal LGAs, namely, Birnin Kebbi, Danko/Wasagu and Jega.”

According to him, the seven replication of LGAs are, Argungu, Gwandu,Dandi, Kalgo,Maiyama,Suru and Sakaba.

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Tchona recalled when they were told that the women wound not open up and it would be difficult for Oxfarm to achieve 30 per cent female participation when the project started in 2016 in the state.

“Today, we have more than double the women participation because we have 63 per cent; it is possible and Proact is about demonstrating possibilities and I want to congratulate you all for making this happened.

“We are certain the result has yielded far- reaching positive result in Kebbi state,” he said.

He also commended community partners and the project partners for their cooperation and great work in achieving the project objectives.

The director thanked the state government and LGAs for support and commitment,and hoped that they would continue to brace up and take up proact resilience building models as their own to reduce poverty, among others.

In his remarks, the Manager of the project in the state, Mr Olumide Ojo, said the aim of the project was to improve the food security, nutrition and resilience of vulnerable households in the state.

“It is aimed at engendering rapid improvement in early recovery, food security and livelihoods for targeted vulnerable farmers and host communities including women and youth in the state and strengthening resilience, preparedness towards risks and natural resource utilization for targeted vulnerable small holder farming.

“It also improves strategic linkages for food security and nutrition, and support to local market systems in each State.

“It improves response capacity of government towards social protection, early warning systems and strengthened local frameworks such as National Agricultural Resilience Framework (NARF) towards resilience building,” he said.

The manager commended the Development Exchange Centre (DEC) who had been the implementing partners assisting Oxfam in PROACT project implementation in the state.

In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Maigari Dakingari, described the five years of OXFAM in the state as tremendous achievement to the state government.

He expressed the state government readiness to work with the similar agencies in order to ensure their activities were sustained.

“Traditionally,Kebbi state is an agrarian state and within the last five to six years; this administration has made tremendous achievements through Gov. Atiku Bagudu.

“The leadership of Kebbi state has been able to transformed Nigeria’s economy through agriculture.

“The administration, due to its commitment, foresight, doggedness of the governor, the agriculture in the state is in our hearts,in our eyes, nose and I want to assure you, even when you have gone,we would still make sure that OXFAM’s activities are fully sustained,” the commissioner said.

The commissioner commended the agency for its contribution towards reduction of poverty in the state among the rural dwellers.

Earlier, the state Commissioner for Budget and Economy Planning, Dr Abba Kalgo,who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Hajiya Aisha Usman, said the agency was a great partner to the state government on the area of development.

Kalgo noted that the news of OXFAM going out of the state, after five years, was a sad news,considering their remarkable achievements and positive impacts in the lives of rural farmers and women.

“Nevertheless, it has been a very good sojourn in Kebbi state . Even for us, you are very good partner. OXFAM, UNICEF are the leading partners in Kebbi state and we really appreciate them, ” the commissioner said.

PROACT project records 63% women participation in 39,000 households within 3 Kebbi LGAs – OXFAM