NAGGW Seeks partnership with NGOs

The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has started an interaction with relevant non- governmental organizations in the 11 frontline states in its bid to ensure the smooth execution of the Nigeria GGW components. The interaction according to the agency was meant to promote public awareness and general knowledge in tackling desertification, poverty, […]

The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has started an interaction with relevant non- governmental organizations in the 11 frontline states in its bid to ensure the smooth execution of the Nigeria GGW components.
The interaction according to the agency was meant to promote public awareness and general knowledge in tackling desertification, poverty, land degradation and climate change.
In a meeting recently with representatives of the various NGOs in Abuja, the Director General NAGGW, Mr Goni Ahmed, sought for partnership and collaboration towards promoting the GGW campaign against desertification as well as improving the livelihood of communities within the corridor of the eleven frontline states.
He called on the NGOs to assist the government in mobilizing and sensitizing the communities in their various states on understanding the objectives of the NAGGW recognizing government efforts in addressing and implementing projects with the view of taking ownership.
He reminded the NGOs of their roles in the development of the nation as selfless service organizations by ensuring that government activities are geared towards improving the lives of Nigerians and to speak out where necessary.
He charged them to constantly visit and identify more communities to get response and in turn advice the Agency appropriately on the way forward, he further noted the numerous desertification activities through large quantities of bulky pieces of tree trunks being cut down and used in bakeries, schools, prisons and even for commercial purposes which needs to be discouraged through constant sensitisation and awareness on the importance of tree planting and the impact of desertification.
The representatives of the various NGOs took turns by enumerating their various contributions, advice and challenges. They called on the Agency to consider tree planting in flood prone areas and restoration of soil nutrients in the frontline states, involve Local Government Information officers in the GGW activities for information dissemination at local and state levels.
They also stressed the need for synergy between the NGOs through a capacity workshop that would enable them share experiences and encourage agro-forestry, encourage women to have their plantation within the GGW sites and involve community and traditional leaders in knowledge sharing and identification of constraints from communities among others.
Mr Ibrahim Ahmed Umar, the representative of Centre for Tropical Ecology Adamawa State, in his contribution called on the Agency  to consider planting of trees in the flood prone areas and consider restoration of soil nutrients’ in the frontline states.
“The civil societies should also focus on the sensitization of the policy makers as that would help when any proposal on desertification is forwarded to them,” said Dr. A.D. Umar of Yakumata Development Initiative, Sokoto State.
Mr. Mohammed Ngubdo Hassan of Herwa Community Development Initiative, Borno State said that the association has identified various youth groups in different communities and wanted the Agency to support the association in bringing them together for a capacity building workshop that would enable them share their experiences, encourage agro-forestry, carried out research on locally species, support the association with seedling for distribution to communities during the World Desertification Day and formulation of local policies by traditional leaders.
In her contribution, Hajiya Asmau Ahmed of Women Advancement Initiative, Kano State advised the NGOs to liaise with relevant stakeholders in the states to support their voices
Mrs Mary Manzo of MeryElika Foundation, Bauchi State on her part called on the Agency to encourage women to have their own plantations and also work with students on environmental sustainability programmes.
Mr. Lakka Irimiya Durkwa of the Alpha 2000 Foundation, Katsina State called for the involvement of emirs and traditional leaders to cut the excesses of politicians.
While calling on environment commissioners’ forum to strengthen the State Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Mr. Mahmud S. Adamu from the same organization called for knowledge sharing and engagement of traditional leaders to share success stories to the public.
Similarly, Mr Umar D. Abdulkadir of Muhalli Jari Foundation Bauchi advised the Agency and the NGOs to always present their selves to the communities as typical persons that would encourage them to listen, accept, protect and use what was provided to them.