NEWMAP-EIB Distributes 2,000 Food-Bearing Tree Seedlings to Women in Gombe Metropolis

…Livelihood Support Targets Vulnerable Groups in Kagarawal and Unguwa Uku Communities

22nd July, 2026

Over 2,000 improved fruit-bearing tree seedlings were distributed on Tuesday to women in Kagarawal and Unguwa Uku, the two project-affected communities within the Gombe State metropolis, under the European Investment Bank Assisted Nigeria Climate Adaptation-Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB).

The initiative, coordinated by the Gombe State NEWMAP-EIB State Project Management Unit (SPMU), was designed to strengthen household nutrition and income for women identified as the most vulnerable in the proposed intervention site. The women were deliberately targeted, given their central role in household food security and vulnerability to climate and economic shocks .

The seedlings distributed are improved varieties of Mango, Guava, Moringa, Orange, and Pawpaw. According to the SPMU, the varieties were selected for their high yield, nutritional value, and adaptability to the local climate. Project staff noted that the distribution was timed to coincide with the current rainy season to ensure easy establishment and higher survival rates of the trees.

Speaking during the handover, the NEWMAP-EIB Project Coordinator, Dr. Shittu Whanda Ja’afaru, said the intervention goes beyond immediate relief. “We identified the women in Kagarawal and Unguwa Uku because they are vulnerable and bear the brunt of environmental challenges. These economic trees are intended to serve as a long-term livelihood asset for them and their families,” the coordinator stated.

He said that the distribution will operate as a reward system tied to future project activities. Women and households that successfully raise and maintain their seedlings will be prioritized for additional livelihood support during the actual intervention phase of NEWMAP-EIB in their community. He also explained that the approach is meant to encourage ownership, support longterm environmental stewardship, building household resilience and sustainability.

This latest exercise is part of a larger greening effort by the SPMU, to this end the project has so far raised 50,000 seedlings of assorted tree species that would be available for public uptake. The stock is intended to support Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s development agenda, particularly the “Gombe Goes Green” initiative, which seeks to increase tree cover, combat erosion, and promote climate resilience across the state.

The uptake is not limited to only the two communities, “the distribution is open to other groups and associations in the state based on formal requests”. Community leaders in attendance welcomed the support and pledged to mobilize women to ensure proper planting, care, and monitoring of the seedlings.

With planting now underway across Kagarawal and Unguwa Uku, NEWMAP-EIB said it will provide follow-up training on tree management and moniture response from uptakers. The project expressed optimism that the combination of improved varieties, seasonal planting, and community participation will deliver both environmental benefits and sustainable economic returns for beneficiary households.

Adapting today safeguarding tomorrow