Climate Change: YMCA establishes 7, 500 oil palm community nurseries in Nasarawa
By our correspondent
The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA, in collaboration with Association of Small Scale Agro Producers in Nigeria (ASSAPIN), has established oil palm nurseries in five local government areas of Nasarawa state to mitigate impact of climate change.
Mr Ango Adamu, Executive Secretary YMCA, Mada Hills, while rounding off the project on Thursday in Lafia Local government, said oil palm seedlings would also serve as source of income for the benefiting communities in the nearest future.
He explained that the project was part of the African Activists for Climate Justice project (AACJ), implementing by YMCA and ASSAPIN, with support from Oxfam in Nigeria.
Adamu said women, youths and people with disabilities who were most affected by climate change were earlier trained on the establishment and management of community nursery by YMCA and partners.
He enjoined the benefiting communities to take ownership of the nurseries to ensure successful transplant of the pre – sprouted oil palm seedlings by next year to the permanent sites.
“Under the AACJ project in Nasarawa state, we have done some trainings, and today we are fulfilling the promise we have made to support community nurseries establishment to combat climate change.
“Well, in a small way as an NGO we have been able to supply to each of the five LGA with, 1,500 pre – sprouted improved variety of oil palm seedlings from Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research, this totaling 7, 500 seedlings as a start.
“We did that in Kokona, Akwanga, Obi, Nassarawa Eggon LGAs and today we are rounding off in Lafia LGA, we are highly impressed with the turn up of the people; community leaders, women, youths
and local government officials participating in the event,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Jonathan Joshua, National President of ASSAPIN said the choice of economic trees was a deliberate effort aim at improving socio -economic status of the benefitting communities and reducing climate change impacts.
Mr Awalu Adamu, chairman, Kokona LGA, represented by his Deputy, Mr James Akpomoshi, supervisory Councilor for agriculture thanked YMCA and partners for their contribution, noting that the LGA would support the course.
Mr Magson- Anthony Zamo, APC Zonal chairman, North Senatorial District, Jerry Ibrahim, Supervisory councilor for Agriculture, Akwanga LGA, while commending YMCA and partners pledged to intensify campaign for tree planting in the zone to reduce impact of climate change.
In Obi LGA, Mr Adagowuso – Alkali Mathew, Director of Personnel Management, representing, Luka Ayele, Overseer of Jenkwe Development Area charged benefiting communities to take ownership of the project, while urging them to take a cue from YMCA.
In Nassarawa Eggon, Aren Eggon, Justice Ahmed Ubangari, represented by district Head of Alizaga, Alh. Sule Dogo Andah, thanked YMCA for the project, noting that he would sensitise his people to plant more economic trees to build resilience against climate change.
Hon. Danlami Idris, Chairman Nassarawa Eggon LGA, represented by majority leader, Bala Agunji, while thanking YMCA for the intervention said the LGA would support tree planting especially economic trees to reduce effect of climate change.
In Lafia, Aren Koro Kuje, Sunday – Joseph Namo, represented by Magajin Garin, Koro Kuje, Alu Alexander, thanking YMCA and partners, assured that the community of B.A.D (Barde Abdullahi) would replicate efforts of YMCA by planting more trees.
