ACReSAL in FCT is a Blessing, Estu Kwali Sees Reduced Poverty Index

His Royal Highness, Luka Ayedoo Nizassan III, Etsu Kwali, Chairman, Council of Chiefs, Kwali Area Council, FCT, Nigeria, has praised the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, describing it as a blessing to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

During a courtesy visit by the World Bank supported ACReSAL Project Team led by Dr. Joy Iganya Agene, the monarch expressed his gratitude for the project’s impact in Kwali.

The Etsu Kwali noted that ACReSAL Innovative interventions have significantly reduced poverty indices in the area, citing the project’s interventions as a major contributor to the improvement. “Kwali has left some poverty index as a result of ACReSAL intervention,” he stated. “ACReSAL in FCT is a blessing.”

He commended the project’s implementation team, highlighting their honesty and dedication. “It is one thing to have a government project and another to have a proper and honest team to implement the project,” he said. “I am ready to provide all the support because if ACReSAL succeeds, it will make a long-term impact in our communities.”

The monarch specifically mentioned the ACReSAL Cassava Processing Center in Sheda, noting its impressive economic benefits. “The Sheda Cassava Processing facility now supplies fufu to Lagos, Kano, and Sokoto,” he said. “ACReSAL intervention expanded the market, and in that market alone, the net worth of income in a week is almost N500,000.”

He emphasized that ACReSAL is a pathway to rural development, recognizing the significant involvement of women in the project. “ACReSAL Peace Building and conflict resolution programs have really scaled down the number of cases in my kingdom through the promotion of peace-building programs and poverty eradication initiatives,” he added.

The Etsu Kwali also highlighted the benefits of farm inputs and tube wells distributed to farmers by ACReSAL. Using the Kwali dam, farmers have started dry season farming, he said. “The dry season farming will ensure year-round farming, food security, and livelihood enhancement.”

He noted that Kwali, being the headquarters of ACReSAL, has received tractors and other mechanized agricultural tools, greatly reducing labor costs and time while improving livelihoods and agricultural production. “ACReSAL realized that the informal sector is the driver of the economy,” he said. “The ACReSAL community resolving funds has been very impactful and transformational.”

The monarch also praised the project’s waste management initiatives, mentioning two groups that treat waste. He encouraged all ACReSAL states to work with traditional institutions for the project’s success and sustainability, emphasizing that traditional institutions are now responsible for development in their catchments.

The visiting team also engaged with communities and project beneficiaries at Pukafa and Sheda, where beneficiaries testified to the project’s positive impacts on their lives and livelihoods.

The Etsu Kwali’s testimony underscores the effectiveness of the ACReSAL project in transforming lives and communities. With the support of traditional institutions, the project is poised to achieve even greater success in the future.

The ACReSAL project has brought about significant positive change in Kwali, and its impact will likely be felt for generations to come.

In attendance at the Royal courtesy visit were the Project Coordinator FCT ACReSAL, Mrs. Caroline Opara, and her team, as well as the World Bank and ACReSAL Federal Project Management team.

The visit demonstrates the project’s commitment to engaging with local communities and traditional institutions to ensure the success and sustainability of its interventions.