By Stanley Onyekwere
The World Bank has expressed satisfaction with the ongoing implementation of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) within the last three years of its existence.
World bank made this satisfactory assessment yesterday when the Practice Manager for the World Bank in West and Central Africa on the ACReSAL project, Mrs. Ellysar Baroudy embarked on an on-the-field visits and engagement with some beneficiaries in selected communities across Kwali Area Council of FCT.
Baroudy, who visited some ACReSAL beneficiaries and intervention sites in
Pukafa community and Sheda 1 village, both in Kwali, expressed satisfaction with the successful ACReSAL project implementation in FCT.
Speaking during a royal homage to the Etsu Kwali, she noted that though the World Bank group have been the financiers, the relevant FCT stakeholders knew how to deploy the resources to make a difference to people’s lives.
She said hearing beneficiaries testify how ACReSAL had so far made a change to livelihoods, is a proof that it is a successful project in the FCT.
According to her: “It is always difficult to implement a program but ACReSAL has succeed in Nigeria.
“I’m truly amazed by the diversity of the cultures, the diversity of agriculture, the diversity of states, of which also you (FCT) are a microcosm.
“We don’t always have successful projects, but this is a successful project. So, I really want to thank everybody within the ACReSAL family and to really thank you for your efforts. I’m truly touched.”
Similarly, the Task Team Leader (TTL) for the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project in Nigeria, Dr. Joy Iganya Agene, explained that before engagement with communities, typically the ACReSAL team would pay homage to the Royal Fathers before going into their communities for any activity.
Agene added that the Practice Manager, who represents Nigeria and 22 other countries n the Western part of Africa and Central Africa, always seeks how to mobilize resources not just for the project, not just for water resources, environment, but also for things like forests, climate change financing and other things.
On his part, Mandate Secretary, FCT Agriculture And Rural Development Secretariat, Comrade Abdullahi Suleiman Ango,, said since its inception, the FCT Administration has regarded the ACReSAL Project as a true game-changer.
He added that the project’s governance structures, notably, the Steering Committee headed by the Honourable Minister of State, FCT and the Technical Committee, have provided exemplary oversight in project implementation.
Earlier in her remarks, the Project Coordinator in FCT,, Mrs. Caroline Opara, described Kwali as the heart of ACReSAL intervention programmes, given that every component of the project has been implemented there.
She noted that the Practice Manager’s engagement with the beneficiaries and interventions, will not just allow her to see the projects, but also hear directly the stories of the people whose lives are being transformed by ACReSAL.
According to her, the positive results of the project could be mainly attributed to community ownership and participation.
Not left out, Etsu Kwali, HRH Luka Nizassan III, while validating the ACReSAL project as one of the successful projects in the country, told the World bank scribe that its funding is getting the desired results.
The monarch, who is the Chairman, Council of Chiefs, Kwali Area Council, Abuja, assured that traditional rulers in FCT are committed to ensuring that every part of the project is not just implemented but implemented appropriately.
He said: “As traditional leaders, we guide, we also profile where this intervention is well needed and also to ensure that some of your interventions don’t go to the wrong hands. That is what FCT has been able to achieve. We continue to pull our weight on that and build better ways to make projects reach its desired goal.
“I want to congratulate the World Bank for investing once again in a noble venture with good results”.
ACReSAL Project financed by Wold bank group, focuses on community climate Resilience, dryland management, contingent emergency response and institutional strengthening.
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