Oxfam flags-off distribution of 13,500 oil palm seedlings in Nasarawa communities

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By Oboh Linus, Lafia

Oxfam in Nigeria in collaboration with the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), has inaugurated the distribution of 13,500 oil palm seedlings in nine communities in Nasarawa State as part of the effort to combat climate change.

Assalama Sidi, Executive Deputy Director, Oxfam in Africa, while performing the symbolic presentation on Thursday in Akwanga, urged the benefiting communities to nurture the trees.

Sidi applauded African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) project implementing partners – YMCA and Association of Small Scale Agro Producers in Nigeria (ASSAPIN) for building the capacity of the climate-impacted communities.

She enjoined the benefiting communities to sustain the project by planting trees, continuously sharing the skills, and getting the work spread out outside their communities.

Assalama Sidi said,” I came to see what my colleagues are doing because my job is not only to oversee what Oxfam is doing in the country but also to support them.

“So, this is just a great opportunity for me because I’m able to see a great project, a project on fighting a climate change effect with all the community members. And the project is great because the project idea came from the community members.

“The community members have decided to choose exactly which tree to plant, and in this case, they have chosen to plant palm trees so that they have locally made palm oil for their health and boost their income.

“So I’m seeing people who are already conscious about climate change means, people are willing to fight against climate change. People have not only a short time but a long time vision, so I’m impressed,”.

Also speaking, John Makina, Country Director, Oxfam in Nigeria, and Dr Kenneth Akpan, Country Lead AACJ project for Oxfam,
while underscoring the reality of climate change, commended the resilience and adaption of the members of the community.

“Another excitement is coming from the kind of partnership we have with YMCA from the very beginning till date, and the impact that we have seen on the ground, in partnership, we can always make it happen,” Makina said.

Also speaking, Yakubu Kwanta, Nasarawa state Commissioner for Environment, represented by the State coordinator of
Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, Dr Napoleon Gyobe, said that the project being championed by YMCA and ASSAPIN was in line with ACReSAL mandate.

He said that the state was ready for collaboration to reclaim degraded lands in the state through aggressive tree planting.

Mr Ango Adamu, Executive Secretary YMCA Mada Hills explained that nine nurseries of Oil palm seedlings were established in five LGAs; Akwanga, Kokona, Lafia, Nasarawa Eggon, and Obi, noting that each of the nine wards has 1500 amounting to 13,500.

“Today, we commence the distribution of Oil palm seedlings particularly to three electoral wards of Gwanje, Ancho, and Bohar of Akwanga local government area of the state, graciously, we are extending nursery establishment to five more LGAs,” he said.