As Oxfam in Nigeria, closes its PROSELL project in six local government areas of Taraba State, it has empowered over 40,000 agrarian households within the last 66 months.
The project in partnership Development Exchange Centre (DEC) and funded by the European Union has resulted in 83.2 per cent increase in livelihood assets within households, enhanced production in livestock and fish value chains for 82.1 per cent of farmers.
Also, a significant 55 per cent of women now have access to resources and control over assets and the empowerment of 35 per cent of farmers, particularly women, contributing to improved livelihoods to mention.
This was disclosed on Monday by the Oxfam Nigeria, Country Director, Mr, Tijani Ahmed Hamza, during the PROSELL Close-Out Review Meeting and Dissemination/Knowledge Sharing Workshop in Abuja.
According to Hamza, Oxfam and its partners embarked on this journey with a commitment to reduce poverty, enhance food and nutrition security, address gender inequality, and build resilience against the numerous challenges faced by our rural brothers and sisters.
“As we stand on the cusp of closing this chapter, today’s gathering serves multiple purposes,” he said.
Also, the Executive Director, Development Exchange Centre (DEC), a co-implementing partner, Dr. Helen Abah, said, “through strategic interventions encompassing best practice knowledge transfer, household and productive asset transfers, financial inclusion services, market linkages, and social safety programs, we have witnessed a transformative impact on the ground.”
The Chief of Staff to Taraba State Governor, Dr. Tachi Williams, said, “A lot of the people have been displaced as a result of banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, and other forms of adversities that have been met on the citizens of this area.
“The overall thing is that we are a state that is bedeviled by conflict, crisis, war, so a lot of livelihoods have been destroyed, and we don’t have shelter. Many people don’t have shelter. And as I’m talking to you right now, there are a lot of displacements in Taraba state.”
He also called for more of such projects in the state, saying it enhances citizens’ livelihoods and empowers thousands of farmers, especially women farmers.
