By Victoria Okpanachi
Kogi State’s Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes Project (ACReSAL), has taken a significant step towards effective implementation by hosting a stakeholders’ engagement and sensitisation during the week in Lokoja.
The event aimed to enlighten participants on the Project’s core principles and objectives to ensure they are upheld.
Declaring the programme open, the Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management, Engineer Joseph Oluwasegun, described the ACReSAL Project as a “transformative initiative” designed to tackle critical environmental challenges such as land degradation, flooding, deforestation, and declining agricultural productivity.
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According to him, the Project’s conception is rooted in a vision to promote long-term transformation, restore degraded lands, rebalance ecosystems, and enhance the resilience of millions of people affected by climate change.
The Commissioner lauded the state government, under the leadership of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, for its commitment to environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and food security.
The State Project Coordinator, Barrister Ladi Jatto, represented by the Project Accountant, Mr. Michael Ojo, provided insights into the Project’s objectives.
She explained that the implementation strategy is built on three key components: dryland management and landscape restoration, community climate resilience, and institutional strengthening and project management.
Barr. Jatto commended the state Government for its unwavering support, noting that funding, policy backing, and institutional support have been instrumental in creating a conducive environment for the Project’s success.
In their goodwill messages, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Honourable Timothy Ojomah, and the Commissioner for Water Resources, Engineer Yahaya Farouk, praised the ACReSAL initiative.
Technical sessions at the workshop led by ACReSAL Consultant, Mr. Gabriel Faitui, focused on a range of topics, including climate adaptation, land restoration, water resource management, and community awareness campaigns.
