Young Men Christian Association, YMCA Inaugurates Distribution of Improved Oil alm Seedlings

By Esther Enna

To combat the adverse effects of climate change that have negatively impacted lives and property across the country, Young Men Christian Association, YMCA Mada Hills have inaugurated the distribution of thirteen thousand five hundred improved oil palm seedlings to some communities across Nasarawa State

Deputy Executive Director of OXFAM in Africa, Mrs Assalama Sidi while speaking at the inauguration in Akwanga, charged people of the state to embrace the project to reduce climate change crisis across the state.

The distribution of improved oil palm trees by the Young Men Christian Association, YMCA Mada Hills in Collaboration with the Association of Small Scale Agro Producers in Nigeria ASSAPIN under the African Activists for Climate Justice with the support of OXFAM was to prevent the impact of climate change across the state.

Deputy Executive Director of Oxfam in Africa, Mrs Assalama Sidi explained that palm tree has economic and health benefits to people of the state and also serve as a means of preventing climate change crisis.

Mrs Assalama commended the YMCA and their partners for their efforts in implementing the project, appealing to beneficiaries of the oil palm seedlings to nurture it for their own good and the state.

OXFAM Country Director in Nigeria, Mr John Makina and the Country Lead of African Activists for Climate Justice, Mr Kenneth Akpan who commended the people of the state for embracing the project, charged them to educate members of their communities on the importance of tree planting.

The Executive Secretary of YMCA, Mada Hills, Mr Ango Adamu explained that thirteen thousand five hundred improved oil palm trees were distributed to nine communities of Kokona, Akwanga, Nasarawa Eggon, Lafia and Obi Local government areas of the state to strengthen the livelihoods of people in the state and to reduce the effects of climate change.

Nasarawa State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Yakubu Kwanta represented by the State Coordinator of Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes ACReSAL project, Dr. Napoleon Elias Gyobe said the state government will partner with YMCM to bring an end to climate change crisis across the state.

On their parts, Representatives of Member Representing Akwanga, Nasarawa Eggon and Wamba Federal Constituency, Jeremiah Umaru, Chun Mada, Pastor Samson Gamu Yare and Sarkin Gudi Alhaji Sule Bawa commended the sponsors of the project for the gesture, promised to sustain planting of trees for generation to come.

National President of ASSAPIN Mr Joshua Jonathan thanked appealed to government at all levels to compliments the initiative by YMCA and their partners towards providing farm inputs to farmers to boost food production across the state.

Some of the beneficiaries, Mr Anthony Magson and Janet Alanji commended the YMCA and its partners for the initiative, promising to nurture the improved oil palm seedlings for economic and health benefits

Highlights of the event were a presentation on the impact of the projects, tree planting and cultural dance by Mada cultural trope.