The World Bank has rated the Kogi State office of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes Project (ACReSAL) as the overall Best on Environmental Safeguards.
Similarly, the Kogi State ACReSAL emerged overall Best in Monitoring and Evaluation oversight as well as Runner-up on transparency and integrity.
The rating was disclosed by the World Bank ACReSAL team, yesterday at a Stakeholder Engagement with Authorizing Environment of the 19 Participating States and the FCT.
The event was held at Intercontinental Hotel, Abuja.
The Kogi State team that attended the just concluded engagement was ably led by the Hon. Commissioner for Environment, who doubles as the Chairman, Kogi State ACReSAL State Steering Committee (SSC), Hon. Omofaiye Victor Adewale.
Omofaiye attended the event alongside his colleagues and Co-Chairmen from the Ministries of Water Resources and Agriculture.
The State Project Co-ordinator, of the ACReSAL project Barr. Ladi Ahmed Jatto, OON, was part of the Team from Kogi State, that attended the World Bank’s 1 Day Stakeholders Engagement Forum.
Others in attendance were the Permanent Secretary, Kogi State Ministry of Environment, Alhaji Jibrin, who also doubles as Chairman, Kogi State ACReSAL State Technical Committee (STC), Permanent Secretaries from the Ministries of Water Resources and Agriculture, as well as the Head, Project Financial Monitoring Unit (HPFMU).
The aim of the all-important Stakeholders’ Engagement was to provide a platform for interface between the World Bank and implementing partners, as well as provide an opportunity for the Authorizing Environment in participating States to fully grasp the essence of the Project Development Objectives of the ACReSAL Project, with the aim of guaranteeing seamless implementation at the State level.
Additionally, the forum served as a platform for assessing the performance of participating states, as well as a hand-holding medium.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman, Kogi State ACReSAL State Steering Committee (SSC), Hon. (Chief) Omifaiye Victor Adewale, said the feat achieved by the Kogi State ACReSAL was made possible by the determination of the State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in ensuring a safe environment.
Similarly, the Kogi State ACReSAL Project Co-ordinator, Barr. Ladi Ahmed Jatto, said no stone would be left unturned in the sustainability of the ACReSAL project.
She thanked Gov. Bello for providing the needed support for the State ACReSAL project to meet set objectives.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
