Kefas distributes $.250, other items to communities in Taraba
By Tom Okpe
Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas has handed a handsome gift of $250,000.00, two hundred and fifty thousand Dollars to 15, fifteen communities of six Local Government Areas in the State.
The gesture was part of activities to celebrate the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes, ACReSAL, Day in the North-Eastern State.
Kefas, during the event, at the gym hall of the Jolly Nyame stadium, Jalingo, also flagged off the ACReSAL Community Resolving Fund, CRF, distribution of climate-smart agricultural inputs, and tractors.
The $250,000 came in form of cheques to the benefitting communities.
READ ALSO: E-paper: 10 things you need to know on The DailytimesNGR
It was gathered that ACReSAL, is a World Bank-financed project, designed to tackle pressing issues of land degradation and climate change in the 19 States of Northern Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
In his speech at the event, Kefas lauded the World Bank and the ACReSAL Project for their impact in the State, pledging to sustain the collaboration.
He disclosed that partnering with the World Bank has not only transformed the agricultural landscape of the State, but also set a benchmark for climate-smart and community-driven initiatives.
He said: “The partnership has raised world-class resources and expertise directly to farmers and communities in this administration, as we are committed to giving farmers opportunities to prosper.
“I call on all stakeholders, Government Agencies,’ Development’ Partners, Private Investors, and Dedicated Farmers to continue, upholding the initiative by the World Bank, as we are looking forward to deepening collaborations, and will continue to scale up the project to transform the State into a model for sustainable agriculture.”
In an an earlier welcome address, the State Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Aishat Barde, said ACReSAL is offering needed innovations to address environmental challenges, arising from climate change.
While apeaking, the Team Leader, ACReSAL Project World Bank, Joy Iganya Agene, lauded what she described as the sportsmanship of Governor Kefas, saying his commitment to the project led to the State’s graduation from stage one to two, in the ACReSAL process.
“Of a truth, Taraba State is faced with several challenges, caused by climate change but ACReSAL is the bedrock of fighting those challenges, ACReSAL is well designed to handle all the shocks,” Agene said.
While calling on benefitting communities to judiciously use their resources to fight climate change, Agene noted that the proceeds from the disbursement should be used for climate-smart activities saying, “Use the resources as your power, to fight the issues of climate change.”
