From Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe
No fewer than 770,000 people have been impacted by the Rural Resilience Activity of the Mercy Corps in the Northeast. According to the group, the partnership between Mercy Corps and the United Agency for International Development (USAID) which aims to improve the livelihoods of communities has yielded impressive results in the region.
This was disclosed by the Team Lead of USAID/Nigeria, Jazmian Ohanyere while speaking during a Partnership Day event that was organized by the group for participants from the Northeast and held in Gombe. She explained that the five-year program is centered around building resilient farming systems and strengthening market linkages to foster economic growth in the region.
The team lead added that the program has facilitated over $97 million in investments and trade from private sector players through various interventions such as increasing farmers’ access to finance, training farmers on better agricultural practices, and creating market opportunities for farmers to sell their products.
Ohanyere further explained that the Northeast region holds an untapped potential that can be a catalyst for regional and national development, therefore, the Partnership Day, which was themed “Fostering Economic Resilience in the Northeast – A Path to Sustainable Growth”, was organized by the group.
She said, ” As you know, this region is experiencing a number of challenges, from the human and economic costs of the insurgency to climate change-related disasters, which have increased the vulnerabilities of the population. USAID knows that by addressing these challenges and harnessing its potential, Northeast Nigeria can unlock its full economic prospects and become more resilient”.
Also speaking at the event which features the presentation of business and investment opportunities in the Northeast, panel discussions, networking, and exhibitions, Gombe state governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya assured that his government committed to more partnership with the group for the economic development of the state.
Governor Yahaya who was represented by his Deputy Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau said, “While thanking Mercy Corps, USAID, IFDC, Save the Children, and other development partners, on behalf of the governors, governments, and residents of this sub-region, I have the honor to declare open this crucial meeting open in the hope of greater economic wellbeing in the Northeast”.