Oxfam in Nigeria has stressed the need for sustainability of the ‘Oxfam Strengthening Active Citizenship and Improve Service Delivery’ (OSAID) project implemented in eight Local government areas in Adamawa and Kebbi states from August 2021 to February 2023.
The N434 million project, generated from PROACT Agricultural Imput Support and funded by the European Union is aimed at reinforcing pillars of resilience building, enterprise development, market systems strengthening and responsible governance systems.
At the OSAID closeout and dissemination workshop held in Abuja, Oxfam Country Director, Dr. Vincent Ahonsi confirmed the success of the project in the two states.
He said “Our overall goal was to improve transparency and accountability in governance and market systems towards reducing poverty and inequality in Adamawa and Kebbi States.
“I am indeed proud to report to you that together with our partners, we have accomplished a lot from what we had set out to do from the start.
“In Adamawa State, the project in partnership with the State Government, through the Office of the Chairperson of the State Planning Commission has institutionalized a strategic citizens’ engagement platform leveraging ICT.
“This platform enables citizens to track the government’s performance and provide real-time feedback, which is a significant step towards improving trust between the government and the governed.
“In Kebbi State, we’ve activated and supported the state committee on food and nutrition security and established food and nutrition security committees across four LGAs. The state has already been supported to develop a social protection policy that harmonizes all social protection programs in the state.
“We’re also proud to say that the Gender Action Learning System (GALS) Methodology has positioned community members to become drivers of their development and empowered them to overcome negative gender biases.
“It is a tool we adopt to mainstream gender equality by addressing the power relationships at the root of inequality.
“The capacities of women in the 2 states have been strengthened to become active players in leadership at both the household and community levels through the Village Savings and Loan: Associations (VSLA)Program.
“Women now have increased access to and control over productive assets with better opportunities to contribute to decision-making processes both at household and community levels,”he added.
One of the beneficiaries, Dinge Ezekiel from Adamawa state, commended the organisation for carrying out such project in her community.
“I want to thank OXFAM for their programme in our community. The Community Development Plan (CDP) was introduced in our place purposely to include women, the less privileged and also the handicapped so that whenever there is any plan on ground, they should be carried along especially on the budgetary priority of the community.
She said with this, poverty will gradually be eradicated from the state.
