FAO, GEF7-FOLUR To Restore Lost Forest, Degraded Farm Land in C/River and Ondo States - Prof. Akinyemi

 The National Coordinator Food Systems, Land use and Restoration Impact Programme FOLUR-IP, Prof. Oladapo Akinyemi has called on all stakeholders in the food systems value chain to double their efforts and commitment towards the realization of the project objectives which seeks to restore the lost Forest areas.

Commissioner For International Donor Coordination With FAO,GEF7 representatives

Also , farmland close to their original status on the premise that the survival of human depends largely on the land and the ecosystems. 

He stated this during a one day stakeholders workshop held at the Project of office, opposite Navy field, State Housing Calabar. 

Mr. Akinyemi amplified the importance of the workshop which centered on the need for stakeholders to understand their roles in the project to enable beneficiaries derive value and timely, that funders are interested in details information about the project progress. 

He called on the four units of the project to synergies more while expressing his appreciation on the level of cooperation from the project Staff and stak.

Speaking on the overview of the project core technical deliverables, the Chief Technical Advisor Prof. Shittu Adebayo acknowledged the enormous contributions of the State through co-financing which has to do with provisions of infrastructure, payment of Staff salaries, provision of millions of sprouted palm nuts and the purchase of motorcycles for extension workers in the State, that if  such gestures are aggregated and monetize you will appreciate the commitment of the present administration to the project including the peace and security which the State enjoy.

That some of primary concern of the project are the development of integration land management, restoration of degraded Forest and farm land with 18.800 hectares of land to be restored while 31.000 hectares of land is earmarked for cocoa development, 29.000 hectares for oil palm development and 40.000 hectares for crops and income diversification and value chain interventions with 50% interventions reserve exclusively for women groups. 

Some of the topics analyzed during the workshop include understanding of Global Environment Facility GEF core indicator, Monitoring and Evaluation Guidelines on Results Management Framework, Impact of Storytelling through photography and videography and visibility guidelines, teleconference best practices.

Folur-IP is funded by Global Environment Facility GEF through Food and Agriculture Organization FAO to promote Integrated Landscape Management and Sustainable Food Systems in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and is in operation in Cross River and Ondo States.

Others who presented papers were Mr. Excell Ogisi Communications and knowledge Management Officer and Mr Azeez Oladipupo National Monitoring and Evaluation Officer while highlights of the event were practical session, questions and answers, paper presentations, ICT test and group photograph. Dignitaries that graced the event include Directors, heads of Departments from Ministry of Agric, Environment, ADP, Forestry Commission, Local Government Areas and Forest Research Institute of Nigeria,etc.

In a related development, the FOLUR-IP National  office led by the Coordinator Prof. Oladapo Akinyemi paid a courtesy visit to the honorable Commissioner Ministry of International Donor Coordination to brief the Commissioner who is saddle with the responsibility of coordinating activities of donor partners in the State on the journey so far. 

Speaking on the essence of the visit, the Chief Technical Advisor of the project Prof. Shittu Adebayo said the visit became very imperative as it's time for the State Project Management Committee to meet and perform their oversight functions which includes review report of activities carryout and approval of SPC plans for the year, that part of their target for this year are to conclude work on European Union Deforestation Community Requirements, polygon mappings of farm land, georeferencing and issuance of customary land titles for small farmers to save farmers from many challenges.

In his response, the Commissioner Elder Hippolatus Lukpata  PhD welcome and appreciated Folur-IP while pointing out that since the project is concern with Forest restoration they should help checkmate illegal logging in the State Forest. The visit featured questions and answers session and group photograph.

©️ Iloke, Egbe