Jigawa State a Sahelian state with several potentialities in industrial agriculture, mineral resources, population growth and tourism development. The state is one the most peaceful and people-friendly in Nigeria. With the promotion slogan Jigawa is open for business, the state has signed several M.O.Us with different development partners, donor agencies and relevant stakeholders aimed at taking the state to a greater height in line with the policy of Governor Umar Namadi’s 12-Point Agenda.

The recent MOU signed by the state is with Agro-climatic Resilience in Semi-arid Land Scape Project (ACRESAL), a six-year deal via a multi-sectorial programme with special emphasis on agriculture, environment, water supply and erosion control. The programme, with vibrant and workaholic project co-coordinator, Mallam Yahaya Abdu Kafin Gana, has swung into action in accordance with the MOU’s blueprint .

Earlier, the diligent and committed task team leader of the programme at the national level, Dr. Mrs. Joy Aganya Agene, had visited the state where she paid homage to the Emir of Hadeija and Chairman Jigawa State Traditional Council, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar Maje, and briefed him on their mission, stressing the need for support from the traditional institution. She said the programme has a lot to offer the state in view of what she saw on her arrival before reaching the emir’s palace.

Emir’s response

Responding, the emir commended the task team leader and promised to support the programme to make it successful. The task team leader thereafter moved to Baturiya wetland where she expressed happiness and joy at what was on ground, promising to support the wetland to enhance tourism of the state. Before departing Hadejia, the task team leader addressed farmers, Fulani and other stakeholders at Hadejia where she briefed them on the mission of the programme, appealing to them for support as major beneficiaries.

The enabling environment

The programme has constructed a befitting office accommodation with a state- of-the art equipment for an enabling environment to its staff, with computers air conditioners, sound system, in addition to training and re-training of their staff on how to discharge their legitimate responsibility in accordance with global best practices. A training workshop was also organized for working journalists on how to report accurately the activities of ACRESAL, with prominent Journalism scholars presenting papers.

The outfit had recently organized a unique and beautiful institutional tree planting campaign aimed at curtailing desert encroachment, at unity secondary school Ringim with Governor Namadi as the special guest of honour, an event that was witnessed by a mammoth crowd.

To make services successful across the 27 LGAs in the state, ACRESAL inaugurated the Dutse Local Government Committee chapter comprising several professionals as members to enhance service delivery.

Open tender/courtesy visit to commissioner, LG chairs

A contract for the construction of five solar boreholes in addition to five nursery gardens was awarded in an open and competitive tender. This is aimed at supporting the State in multi sectorial way in line with the MOU expected to last six years. To solicit for more support, a courtesy call was paid on the commissioner for local government and local government chairmen was also paid where they were fully briefed on the programme’s mission and the need to enlighten people of the grassroots on the benefits of the programme. To enhance mobility and transport network, the programme procured a sixteen- sitter bus and a Toyota Hilux.

Sanitisation to compliment

Further to the above, a sensitization programme aimed at creating awareness among the teaming citizenry was held in some selected villages in addition to the focal NGOs integrated into the enlightenment programme. Without doubt, the good people of the state are proud to associate themselves with the programme which has direct bearing on the humanity and ultimately lead to economic viability of the state, reduce rural-urban migration, enhance per capital income and create a local economy as part of Namadi’s 12-point agenda presented to people of the State during the electioneering.

Expectedly, this effort would yield fruitful result and reposition the State in line with the global best practices and put it at the forefront in agricultural revolution, commercial agriculture, and vibrant industrial sector. The training and re-training of staff to engage in the programme have contributed significantly to the achievements recorded so far within a shortest period of time. This makes it imperative for people of the state, particularly the benefitting communities to support this programme and see it to success.