Kwara ACReSAL State Steering & Technical Committee Holds Quarterly meeting* … __Chairman urged team on robust and good working relationship_

The State Steering and Technical Committees of the Kwara Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape (ACReSAL) held their quarterly meeting at the Ministry of Environment headquarters in Ilorin.

The Commissioner for Environment, who doubles as the Chairman, Steering Committee of the ACReSAL Project in the State, Mallam Shehu Ndanusa Usman, while presiding over the meeting urged the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) to build a good working and robust relationship with the committee members in order to enhance a seamless, efficient and effective project implementation in the state.

Mallam Ndanusa said the discussion would provide an opportunity for the State Project Management Unit (SPMU) and the committee to interact  with a view to be briefed on the project activities, their level of execution as well as offering useful contributions towards actualizing the project’s objectives.

The Commissioner commended the unflinching efforts of the Kwara State Government under the indefatigable leadership and guardian of the Executive Governor, His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq  

In the same vein, the Chairman extolled the support of the World Bank and the Federal Project Management Unit (FPMU) for aiding the project out in time of it challenges.

Mallam Ndanusa remarked that the project, having gone through hurdles and drawbacks, has come to stay for the betterment of the people of the state.

During the Technical session, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, who is also the Chairman, State Technical Committee of ACReSAL, Hajia Afusat Ibrahim, lauded the efforts of state government and the Kwara ACReSAL project staff for their dedication, commitment and team work. 

She enjoins them to be steadfast and sustain the positive tempo in the Project Management Unit. She implored the members to put forward logical ideas which will propel the project achieving its goals.

 Hajia Ibrahim said the World Bank is supporting ACReSAL, which is a multi-sectoral project, with its activities spread around the three core Ministries of Environment, Agriculture and Water Resources, is initiated to have an impactful presence in various communities in the state that will be beneficial to all and sundry.

Speaking on the Project activities updates, the Acting Project Coordinator, Alhaji Shamsideen Aregbe appreciated the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq for the wonderful role he is playing in the nurturing and creating enabling environment towards making the project succeed in the State.

The Acting PC noted that the essence of the deliberation was to keep the Committee abreast of the project activities as well as requesting them to make positive input, provide guidance and assistance for the success and sustainability of the project.

Alhaji Aregbe updated the SSC and the STC of the relocation of the ACReSAL SPIU to the Permanent Office, delivery and possession of the GIS and ICT equipment, procurement of two official vehicles; one Toyota Hilux & one Toyota Hiace, 16 sitter Bus, which had earlier been unveiled by the SSC, and the development of project work plan. 

Conversing on the work plan, Alhaji Aregbe commented that the extension of the work plan calls for liaising and aligning with the three MDAs to have effective input, as adequately provided by the project guideline, before it will be forwarded to the Federal Project Management Unit and World Bank for final clearance.

Present at the meeting were the Co- Chairman, Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Usman Lade, and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Olorukoba, who also represented the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Other members at the meeting were the Permanent Secretaries from Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Water Resources, Directors from Water Resources, Environment, Agriculture and staff of the SPMU.

Okanlawon Taiwo

Communication Officer 

Kw-ACReSAL

01/01/2023