….Say, project saves Ebonyi from ravaging flood disaster
By Nwogha Ndubuisi Andy, Abakaliki
About fifty windows who benefited from the empowerment support from the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project,(NEWMAP), appreciated Ebonyi state governor, David Umahi for his transparency.
They made the commendation shortly after receiving hundreds of birds and other poultry equipments at Obodoukwu in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
The widows who were visibly elated appreciated the Ebonyi state Project Coordinator of NEWMAP, Philip Echiegu for his transparency and appealed for sustenance of the program.
Speaking with one of the poultry beneficiaries and Inyiudele Widow 2 women leader, Mrs Elizabeth Nwachukwu, commended the federal and state government for fulfilling the promise of empowering the widows who are farmers affected by the ongoing erosion control project.
Nwachukwu while appealing for the extension of period of partnership to enable them gain more knowledge in the poultry farming said more training is needed for the farmers to fully remain in the business .
She, however, thanked the state governor, Engr David Umahi, for his support in the implementation of the flood control project which she said it saved the state from the ravaging flood disaster facing the country.
Corroborating Nwachukwu, a septugarian, Mrs Eunice Ibi, hinted that beneficiaries of the empowerment Programme are aged mothers who had relied on the affected farmlands for a living and urged both federal and state government for more collaboration.
Nigeria Erosion Water Management Project, NEWMAP, is an 8-year project of the federal Government of Nigeria that supports state-led interventions to prevent and reverse land degradation, focusing majorly on gully erosion sites that threaten infrastructure, livelihoods, and Environmental assets through world bank assisted project funded by Global Environmental Facility Trust(GEF) Fund with Special Climate Change Fund(SCCF) and counterpart fund from the beneficiary states which Ebonyi is among.