Segun Babatunde in Bauchi
The Gombe Government has restated its commitment to continue to focus on human capital development for the betterment of the citizenry.
The State Governor,Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya gave the indication on the occasion of the kick-off event of Rural Resilience Activity organised by Mercy Corps, collaboration with Gombe State Government, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and International Fertilizer Development Company ( IFDC) held at Maidugu Hotel in the metropolis Tuesday.
Declaring the workshop open, Governor Yahaya said the presence of Mercy Corps and other Non Governmental Organisations in the state is a clear demonstration of the administration’s drive to encourage a partnership that could assist them in delivering its mandate.
Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, Alhaji Yahaya said government places emphasis on health, education, agriculture and infrastructure because they are enablers for moving the people out of poverty.
The Governor added that the collaboration with development partners is premised on the fact that they are catalysts for overall development and aspirations.
He expressed delight that the main trust of the Rural Resilience Activity(RRA )project is to move individuals and households out of chronic vulnerability by stimulating market systems that take into cognizance the unique challenges and constraints of the North East environment.
Governor Yahaya further explained that despite the huge potentials the state is endowed with, it had been contending with poor human development in virtually all the sectors over the years, which was compounded by the massive influx of people from conflict areas around the North East.
He noted with happiness, the choice of Gombe state for the commencement of the implementation of the RRA project, making Gombe the regional hub of operations, thereby reducing the effect of the increased population on the essential services and infrastructure.
In a remark, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget, Planning and Development Partners Coordination, Dr. Ishiyaku Mohammed, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Jalo Ali appreciated Mercy Corps for making Gombe State the regional headquarters of the international humanitarian service provider, assuring of the sustainability of the collaboration for the benefit of the people of the state.
Earlier, the Investment Fund Manager, Mercy Corps, Mr. Joseph Ubek said the organisation has several programmes to assist the vulnerable estimated at one point three million in the North East region through empowerment programmes captured in the Rural Resilience Strategy. END
