Newly Appointed NPC Resumes Duties, Calls for Teamwork

Mr. Abdulhamid Umar has resumed duties as the substantive National Project Coordinator (NPC) of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) with a charge on staff to work as a team.

The NPC received a hand-over report from immediate past Acting National Project Coordinator and the project Water Resources Specialist, Engr. Anda Yalaks at an event  that had all the ACReSAL participating state project coordinators and their respective officers connecting virtually.

In his hand-over remarks, Engr. Anda welcomed all the participants and introduced the NPC to the entire ACReSAL team, he also appreciated the NPC’s former colleagues who came to support him as he takes over the leadership of the project.

“Today is a historic day in ACReSAL, today is the beginning of a new era, today is the beginning of a new paradigm shift in ACReSAL, it is historic because I am not just handing over to anybody but to a friend and a brother, who has been trusted and tested, who is bringing in innovation, technology to the project” Engr. Anda said.

He said that it is indeed a historic event for GOD has given him the opportunity to steer the affairs of the project right from planning  to the approval and he has successfully led the project  team to delivered on two major events; Hybrid implementation support mission to Kano state as well as the Work and procurement clinic that lasted for two weeks in Lagos, etc. He appreciated the project team for the support extended to him and appealed that the same should be given to the NPC. He noted that what is important is delivering the project and we will achieve that collectively. 

“ACReSAL is a family and we must work together,” he noted. He informed the NPC that ACReSAL staff capacity is already built as the staff developed the project implementation manual (PIM) internally. 

The NPC in his remarks, congratulated Engr. Anda for the successful hand-over, he said that Engr. Anda just stepped outside for his brother but he is still in the project. He appreciated the ACReSAL Federal Steering committee Chairmen (Hon. Ministers of Environment, Agriculture and Water Resources) and the World Bank for finding him worthwhile to join the ACReSAL existing family that is well structured and diverse.   He said that based on the project documents, ACResal is well structured because it speaks to the downtrodden at the community level, right through to the local govt level, state level and the project will surely address the gaps and challenges that climate change has caused in the 19 northern states and FCT.  He appealed that all will join hands to ensure that we deliver on the entire project development objective (PDO) of which the Federal Government of Nigeria approached the World Bank for an investment which is for the benefit of our people so that issues surrounding land degradation, poverty, hopelessness and climatic challenges will be reduced heavily.

The ACReSAL new boss noted that he doesn’t know it all, but has some project specific, people specific and organizational specific experiences, ranging from power and steel, aviation and transportation, telecommunications both in public and private sectors, and National Identity Management Commission where he has worked for over 10 years as regards to technology and he intends to bring to bear his past experiences to build on the building blocks and foundation already established by the entire team. He said he will depend on the human capital and the process which has been articulated and made easy in the PIM and PAD of the project as well as technology to drive the project delivery for the benefit of people.

Mr. Abdulhamid noted that those who have travelled to the catchment areas of 19 northern states and FCT will agree that those who actually designed the project that brought over $700m to be invested is a well thought idea because there is high level of land degradation in the frontline states as a result of issues surrounding climate change, hence all of us will work together in delivery the project, as he cannot do all alone but mainly to provide leadership.

He thanked Engr. Anda and the entire team for the well reception accorded to him which gives him lots of comfort and confidence that together we can deliver the projects. He delivered the Hon. Ministers messages of hope to ACReSAL team and their continuous support towards project implementation.  

In conclusion, the NPC said that he is a lover of human capital, saying he protects human capital, cherishes and encourage human capital because this assignment can alone be delivered by human beings. He said he has zero tolerance to truancy and timelines must be met as he looks forward to receiving 21 awards in the course of the project implementation. He invited all to join him in the service of the nation because we have a duty.

He cautioned that the project funds must be judiciously used for the purpose it was borrowed for, and promised to give the state project coordinators all the necessary support in terms of coordination and oversight functions.

Speaking on behalf of the State Coordinators, Alhaji Musa Shuaibu, the project coordinator Kano ACReSAL and Chairman of the ACReSAL state project coordinator forum welcomed the NPC and noted that he is in the right place at the right time. He assured him of the Project Coordinators support and willingness to work with him in the project. He thanked Engr. Anda for his commitment and working diligently for the good of humanity.