Gombe NEWMAP-EIB Team Strengthens Ties with Kagarawal Community
… Community Leader Hails Governor Yahaya’s Environmental Initiatives
Gombe, Nigeria – In a bid to foster collaboration and raise awareness about the European Investment Bank-assisted Nigeria Climate Adaptation-Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB), the Gombe State project team paid a courtesy visit to the Head of the Kagarawal community, Alhaji Usman A. Bello, and his council of elders at his palace.
During the visit, the Project Coordinator, Dr. Shittu Whanda Ja’afaru, briefed the community leader on the project’s objectives, highlighting its focus on environmental conservation and community development. He expressed gratitude to the community for their warm reception and support, urging them to continue backing the project.
Alhaji Usman A. Bello commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his unwavering commitment to environmental protection and for selecting Kagarawal as one of the benefiting communities in the state. He pledged his support and that of his people for the project, emphasizing the need for collective action to combat environmental challenges.
The project team also took the opportunity to discuss the specifics of the intervention, including the rehabilitation of the Unguwa Uku gully, which has several tributaries. Dr. Ja’afaru explained that the gully control would not only stabilize the environment but also aid in storing water which will be instrumental in irrigation farming and aquifer recharge, thereby boosting water supply.
He noted that the intervention at Unguwa Uku gully erosion site has been approved by His Excellency, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, and is part of the state’s efforts to address environmental degradation and promote sustainable development.
The community leader and his council of elders assured the project team of their full cooperation, with Alhaji Bello urging the team to maintain their momentum in delivering people-oriented initiatives.
Environmental Benefits
The NEWMAP-EIB project is expected to have a positive impact on the environment and the lives of the people in Kagarawal community. Some of the benefits include:
– Gully rehabilitation and stabilization
– Increased water supply through aquifer recharge
– Opportunities for irrigation farming
– Enhanced community development and environmental conservation
The project team was warmly received by the community, and the visit marked an important step in building trust and cooperation between the project implementers and the local stakeholders.
Adapting today, safeguarding tomorrow.
