By Danjuma Attah, Gombe
The Livestock Production and Resilience Support (L-PRES) project in Gombe State has identified the Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (ANGO) as a worthy partner in reaching the populace with it’s people oriented activities.
Gombe State Coordinator of the programme, Professor Usman Bello Abubakar, stated this when members of ANGO led by it’s Chairman, Yusuf Bachama, paid an advocacy visit to the L-PRESS office, in Gombe.
Visibly impressed by the visit, Professor UB Abubakar described it as a very important one considering the critical role ANGO plays as the voice and conscience of the society.
He explained that ANGO will greatly help L-PRES by making the people know, appreciate and key them into L-PRES activities as well as encouraging the people to leverage on economic opportunities in the livestock industry.
He reeled out the mandate of the project and what it was able to execute since September 2023 when the programme commenced in Gombe State.
According to him, it is a world bank project being executed in twenty (20) States of the federation including Gombe. The programme has a six year life span.
Professor Abubakar explained further that the project is guided by three key components which include, investment and innovation system strengthening as well as livestock value chain enhancement.
The third important component of the project is crises prevention management, conflict mitigation, peace building environment and coordination.
The programme, within the last one year alone, had executed numerous projects geared towards improving livestock production and commercialisation, strengthening systems and rehabilitation of structures and facilities such as veterinary clinics, abattoirs, slaughter slabs among many others.
L-PRES had also been involved in profiling livestock farmers, instrumental in reducing farmers/herders conflicts, rehabilitate laboratories for disease surveillance, capacity building for livestock production among many others.
“Our target is to change the way and manner our people handle animals for more economic gains and upliftment, and we are on course.
“There are plans for International Cattle Market in Gombe State. There are also plans to upgrade the cattle markets in Bajoga, Funakaye LGA, Kashere, Akko LGA, and Lalaipido in Shongom LGA.
Earlier, Chairman of ANGO, Dr Yusuf Bachama, commended the patriotic commitment towards the implementation of the project and said, the aim of the visit was for ANGO to familiarise itself with the activities of L-PRES so as to better inform the communities.
“We are available for you to explore opportunities for the project going forward. Consider the CSO’s as partners in progress while implementing the project”, Bachama stated.
End.
