From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Gov Bello
The Kogi State Government has restated its resolve to continue to partner with ActionAid Nigeria to alleviate poverty in the state.
The State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello made this known while speaking at the end of an even, Project Dissemination of the System and Structure Strengthening Approach Against Radicalisation to Violent Extremism (SARVE) in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital, over the weekend.
The Governor who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief David Edward Onoja stated that the present administration is not resting on its oars to provide adequate security and more dividends of democracy to its citizens.
Bello lauded ActionAid Nigeria for adding value to the rural women and support for young people who had become good citizens rather than miscreants and urging the organisation to scale up its support for the people.
Ene Obi, Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria in her speech disclosed that the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) has approved 2.5 million US Dollars for a three-year community engagements in Kogi and Nasarawa states from 2019.
Obi who was represented by Mrs Tasalla Chibok, Director Programmes said that the approval from GCERF would enable the extension of the project in Kogi after its 30 months engagement in six communities of the State.
Obi said that the SARVE project had contributed greatly in reducing violent extremism and youth restiveness and as well, improved the economic status of women and youths in the project communities through its Livelihood Support Programmes.
She held that the project had evidently impacted over 20,000 youths, women and men across Okpakpata, Osaragada/Aku, Osara, Ofuloko and Fulani communities in Adavi and Igalamela-Odolu Local Government Areas of the state.
The project, she said, within the last 30 months, had sensitised about one-third of the 1.8 million youths in the state through its radio jingles, peace walks and capacity development programmes.
Obi said it was in recognition of the success of the project that that GCERF approved 2.5 million Dollars for continuation of the project from February, 2019.
