The Kogi State Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes Project (ACReSAL) on Monday convened a Stakeholders Engagement and Sensitization workshop in Lokoja to enlighten participants on the project’s core principles and objectives.
The workshop, aimed at mobilizing broad based support and ensuring the effective implementation of the project’s climate resilience interventions across the state, brought together stakeholders from government ministries, civil society groups, traditional institutions, environmental experts, the media, and local communities.
Declaring the workshop open, the Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management, Engr. Joseph Oluwasegun, who doubles as the Chairman State Steering Committee, described the project as a transformative initiative designed to tackle pressing environmental challenges such as land degradation, flooding, deforestation, and declining agricultural productivity.
He explained that the ACReSAL project was conceived to promote long-term transformation, restore dignity to degraded lands, rebalance ecosystems, and strengthen the resilience of millions of people affected by the impacts of climate change.
“ACReSAL is a collective response, a bold, strategic, and inclusive intervention designed to restore one million hectares of degraded land, improve water resources management, and uplift the livelihoods of 3.4 million direct beneficiaries”
He noted that the workshop provides a platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing on climate adaptation and environmental management, bringing all stakeholders together to build partnerships for sustainable solutions.
While highlighting some of the project’s interventions in the state, Engr. Joseph pointed to the restoration of degraded lands, the expansion of water storage capacity, and support for dry-season farming initiatives, which have boosted food security and income generation across several communities.
He commended the unwavering support of the Kogi State Government under the leadership of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, noting that the administration continues to prioritize environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and food security as key pillars of its development agenda.
The Commissioner urged stakeholders to fully engage in the sensitization workshop and use the knowledge gained to drive climate resilience efforts in their communities
Speaking on the project’s objectives, the State Project Coordinator, Barr. Ladi Ahmed Jatto, OON, explained that the project’s core principles of resilience, sustainability, and inclusiveness will guide interventions across agriculture, water resources, and environmental management sectors.
She added that the implementation strategy is anchored on three key components dryland management and landscape restoration, community climate resilience, and institutional strengthening and project management.
Represented by the project Accountant pst. Abiodun Ojo, the Project Coordinator emphasized the importance of the engagement and sensitization workshop as a platform to build partnerships, share knowledge, and secure collective commitment for the smooth implementation of the project across the state.
She lauded the Kogi State Government for its unwavering support, noting that funding, policy backing, and institutional support have created an enabling environment for the success of the ACReSAL project.
In their goodwill messages, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Timothy Ojomah, and the Commissioner for Water Resources, Engr. Yahaya Farouk, praised the initiative for aligning with the state’s long-term vision for food security and water resource management.
Hon. Ojomah stressed the importance of adopting climate-smart agricultural practices to boost productivity and protect farming communities from the adverse effects of climate change, while Hon. Farouk called for the strengthening of water infrastructure to reduce flooding risks and ensure year-round access to clean water for rural and urban communities alike.
Stakeholders at the workshop described the engagement as timely and impactful, noting that it provided a rare opportunity to deepen their understanding of the project’s objectives, clarify roles, and foster collaboration.
They pledged their full cooperation towards the success of the project, particularly in rural communities where climate impacts are most severe.
Led by the Consultant Mr Gabriel Faitui the workshop featured technical sessions on climate adaptation, land restoration, water resource management, and community awareness campaigns, with experts calling for continuous sensitization, continuous interventions and community-driven initiatives to restore degraded lands.
Jointly supported by the World Bank, the Federal Government of Nigeria, and the Kogi State Government, Kogi ACReSAL seeks to enhance the resilience of people and ecosystems in Nigeria’s dryland regions through sustainable landscape management and climate adaptation measures.
With the engagement and Sensitization workshop, Kogi ACReSAL has taken a major step toward fostering collaboration, strengthening community ownership, and ensuring the successful rollout of its climate resilience programs across the state.
Mariam Adams
Information Officer
Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management
