In a bid to support conflict affected families with capacity to recover and enhance their means of livelihood and resilience, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has ceremonially handed over Nonfood items (NFIs) for Income generating activities to targeted households in Gujba and Gulani LGAs, yobe state, through the Centre for Community Development and Research Network(CCDRN) as well as cooking demonstrations kits to Yobe state primary health Care Management Board, and other cooperating partners to support the capacity of mothers to better improve the feeding practice for their children.
Speaking during the handing over ceremony which held on Tuesday, 3rd March, 2020 at WFP warehouse in Damasturu, Mr Niamkeezoua Kodjo, WFP’s Head of Programme for Damaturu Sub-Office, noted that WFP is currently implementing a Country Strategic Plan of 2019 – 2022 which aim to provide lifesaving and resilience building assistance to 1,200,000 conflict affected people in North-East Nigeria.
Yobe Deputy Governor left with WFP’s head of Damaturu Sub office left jointly presenting Startup kit to a beneficiary
He added that WFP is currently providing assistance to 200,000 people per month across 10 local government areas in Yobe.
“WFP allocate significant resources to strengthen the capacities in the State in order to increase ownership and sustainability of the programmes. This year, WFP will hand over various Livelihood, IGA and Nutrition Non-Food Items worth five hundred seventy (570) million Naira for the benefit of people we serve in Yobe State through the State Primary Health Care Management Board, and cooperating the partners, especially CCDRN, COOPI and CARE International,” Kojo said.
He also disclosed that WFP assistance includes unconditional food assistance –either Cash based transfer or in-kind-to “ save the lives of the people we serve , prevent malnutrition among Children and women as well as to treat moderate acute malnourished children”. Adding that WFP is also providing support to improve people means of Livelihood and communities’ long-term food security and Nutrition resilience through individual and communal assets building and restoration as well as capacity strengthening.
Mr Kojo, WFP’s Head of Programme, Damaturu sub office delivering his speech during the handing over ceremony
Mr Kojo further stated that in Yobe state, WFP transfers around six hundred and sixty-five (665) million Naira cash and distributes five hundred (500) metric tons of various food commodities, every month, directly to people assisted across its entire programme.
In his remarks, Gov. Mai Mala-Buni of Yobe, represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Idi Gubana, tasked all stakeholders to work towards the attainment of the objectives of the programme.
“I therefore appeal to all affected organizations to ensure that the items are fully put to use and maintained to achieve the desired results. In addition, with the subsequent full cooperation of the individual beneficiaries of some of these items, I believe our people can start obtaining food and personal income thereby becoming self-reliant” he said.
Yobe Deputy Governor, addressing guest at the event
He further thanked WFP and CCDRN for the intervention and maintained that the Non Food Items will help internally displayed persons build resilience and give them a means of livelihood.
Dr Abubakar Garba Iliya, Honorable Commissioner, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and disaster Management Yobe state, who also spoke at the event, noted that WFP in partnership with CCDRN has carried out remarkable interventions in building resilience of the vulnerable individuals that were affected by insurgency. He also commended the nutrition program targeting children under the age of five, lactating mothers and the livelihood intervention which he described as life changing interventions.
Hon Commissioner, Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, delivering his goodwill message at the event
Earlier, in his welcome address, Haruna Goni, WFPs Supply Chain Associate, while appreciating the support given to WFP and its partners by Yobe State Government, military Agencies and community leaders, noted that, “…this synergy have created an enabling environment for WFP to operate and reach out to the vulnerable populations to assess their need and help eliminate hunger and malnutrition in the State and we solicit for such continued support in the near future”.
Some of the beneficiaries, who received the NFI’s during the ceremony, thanked WFP and CCDRN for the live changing opportunities they have being given to become self-reliant.
Some of the NFIs in full display during the ceremony
The event was graced by His Excellency, the Governor of Yobe state, represented by his Deputy, Hon. IDI Barde Gubana, HRH ALH.DR. Shehu Hashimi 11 IBN Umar, Emir of Damaturu, HRH ALH. Muktar IBN Ali Gangarang, Emir of Gujba, Chief Imam of Yobe, Hon. Commissioner of Humanitarian Affairs & Disaster Management among others.
Emir of Damaturu exchanging pleasantries with WFP head of sub office in Damaturu
United Nations World Food Programme has been operating in the North-East of Nigeria since June of 2016. CCDRN is in partnership with WFP to manage the implementation of its interventions across Gujba, Gulani and Bade LGAs of Yobe state. this partnership has helped in promoting food security and deepening of resilience capacity of conflict affected population.
