The National Programme Coordinator of the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES), Dr. Abdulkareem Obaje, has urged stakeholders in Kano and Jigawa States to intensify efforts towards achieving the objectives of the intervention programme.
Obaje made the call in Kano on Monday while declaring open a three-day training on Gender-Based Violence and Grievance Mechanism protocols as contained in the programme documents and approved by the World Bank.
According to a statement signed by Shafa’atu Said Karaye, Communication Officer, Kano CARES Delivery Platform, the training was organised by the Kano and Jigawa State Ministries of Budget and Planning, the supervising ministries of the NG-CARES programme. The event was held at Tahir Guest Palace in Kano.
Addressing participants, Obaje appealed to implementing partners and stakeholders in the two states to be more proactive in delivering on the programme’s mandate.
“I urge all stakeholders implementing the NG-CARES Programme in Kano and Jigawa States to be more proactive in delivering on the programme’s objectives,” he said.
The National Coordinator further charged participants to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the training to enhance service delivery to beneficiaries.
“Participants and all stakeholders involved in programme implementation in the two states should make judicious use of the knowledge and skills acquired, particularly in supporting poor and vulnerable households to improve their economic wellbeing and living standards,” he added.
Obaje also disclosed that the Federal Government and the World Bank had approved the extension of the programme to 2028 under a new phase tagged NG-CARES 2.0.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria and the World Bank have approved the extension of the NG-CARES Programme to 2028 under a new phase tagged NG-CARES 2.0,” he said, urging states to meet the necessary conditions required for participation in the new phase.
In a goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary, Jigawa State Ministry of Planning and Budget, Malam Sagir Sani Kila, commended the National Coordinator for organising the training.
He noted that “the support provided by the NG-CARES office in Jigawa has significantly improved the economic wellbeing of many poor and vulnerable households in the state.”
Similarly, delivering closing remarks on behalf of the Kano State Commissioner for Planning and Budget, a Director in the ministry, Malam Aliyu Muhammad, expressed appreciation to the National Coordinator for organising the training, particularly as the programme had received approval from the Federal Government to continue until 2028.
He stated that the training was facilitated by resourceful individuals and conducted in an interactive manner that encouraged experience sharing among participants.
