The Jigawa State Government, in collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Nigerian Red Cross Society, has organized a one-day training workshop for stakeholders drawn from drought-prone local government areas of the state.
The training targeted participants from Sule Tankarkar, Maigatari, Malam Madori, Kaugama and Babura Local Government Areas, communities that have continued to experience drought even during the rainy season.
The objective of the workshop was to equip stakeholders with practical knowledge and skills on drought mitigation, land management, landscaping and environmental restoration in their respective communities.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Disaster Management, Alhaji Mustapha Umar Babura, explained that the five local government areas were selected as pilot locations for the project. He noted that the intervention is part of a broader initiative initially designed for five states identified as having serious rainfall shortages, including Zamfara, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa and Yobe States.
Babura expressed appreciation to the IFRC and the Red Cross for choosing Jigawa State as the starting point for the project, describing the state as one of the most peaceful in the federation. He urged participants to apply the knowledge gained from the training and to educate their communities through practical engagement.
Also speaking, the former Commissioner for Water Resources and current Executive Secretary of the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Hannafi Yakubu Fagam, disclosed that the Jigawa State House of Assembly has enacted legislation aimed at addressing desertification and disaster management in order to safeguard the environment.
In her remarks, the National Coordinator of the IFRC/Red Cross project, Mrs. Blessing John, said the training was designed to address the growing threat of drought, which has continued to degrade land and the environment in many parts of northern Nigeria. She explained that the project is currently being piloted in Jigawa State.
Mrs. John added that the workshop also serves as a platform for stakeholders to share ideas and experiences, while clearly defining roles and responsibilities to ensure the successful implementation of the project in the selected local government areas and participating states.
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
