KWACReSAL visits Ijagbo and assures community of benefits in World Bank project

The Kwara State Government through the State Agro-climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) on Friday made a plea at the palace of Onijagbo of Ijagbo land, Oba Buhari Adeniyi Sharafa Ilufemiloye I, for the speedy commencement of the plan to establish nurseries for planting economic and valuable trees for the benefit of the Kwarans as part of a visit to the six selected communities

The State Project Coordinator, Alhaji Shamsideen Olatunbosun Aregbe, led by operatives of the State Project Implementation Unit (SPMU), visited Ijagbo, Oyun Local Government Area of ​​Kwara State to assist the Ijagbo community in providing five hectares of land for the establishment of nurseries in the community.

The Onijagbo of Ijagbo, Oba Buhari Adeniyi Sharafa Ilufemiloye I, welcomed the team during the community engagement and described the ACReSAL central nursery project as a great initiative. He expressed his unwavering support for the project and assured them of his commitment to the success of the project.

The monarch stated that the project would not only bring about greater socio-economic development but also improve the living conditions of his people. He also promised to work with his community to reserve a suitable piece of land for the rapid take-off of the project.

He said: “We have granted your request, we see the project as a great initiative and we welcome it. Please let my office know what support you need. I am ready to support this project.”

Earlier in his speech, the State Coordinator of the project explained that six communities including Ijagbo have been selected for the establishment of the central nursery project in Kwara.

According to him, the nurseries will be of immense benefit to the Ijagbo community. The central nursery project will serve as a platform for planting valuable seedlings and economic trees that can be sold to improve the livelihood of the community. We will also plant trees that can be used to control erosion in the central nursery.

He noted that the ACReSAL project is a partnership between the World Bank and the Kwara State Government, stressing that the project is also being implemented in 19 other states in Northern Nigeria and the FCT.

The State Coordinator explained that the project will not only benefit the Ijagbo community but also the surrounding communities. He reassured them that the land that would be used for the project would still belong to the community.

“In addition to the central nursery project, Ijagbo is now one of our catchment areas. So there will be other benefits to the community including implementation support for farmers, capacity building programmes for women and youth,” he said.

The exercise was attended by palace leaders, community leaders and other relevant stakeholders.

Similarly, the Kwara ACReSAL team visited Iponrin in Ilorin East Local Government to intensify discussions on the central nursery project.

The Baale of Iponrin, Alhaji Hamad Musa Otebakin IV, assured that all necessary preparations were underway to ensure the implementation of the project in the community.

He was very grateful to the state government, the World Bank and the Kwara team for involving his community in the project.

“We can see that this is in the interest of our community, your team has been open in all our involvement. You have our support for the project,” Baale reiterated.