Stakeholders Laud ANI Over Livelihood Support To 450 Women In Toungo

Magdalene Ukuedojor
May, Sat, 2025

Environment

Stakeholders laud ANI over livelihood support to 450 women in Toungo

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By Gabriel Yough

A cross-section of stakeholders on Saturday commended the Africa Nature Investors (ANI) Foundation for the launch of a women centre and livelihood support to 450 in Toungo, Adamawa.

Mr David Peter, Deputy Project Manager of ANI Foundation, said the programme was created to empower women and foster community development through the savings and loan groups.

Dr Ibrahim Goni, the Conservator-General (C-G) of the National Parks Service (NPS), said the launch of the Women’s Centre and livelihood support to 450 women reflected the shared vision of the foundation and NPS to empowerment and economic transformation.

Represented by Assistant Conservator-General (ACG) Mohammed Kabir, the C-G said the partnership has brought significant transformation and development to the fortunes of Gashaka Gumti National Park and communities surrounding it.

“You may recall that in October 2023, Gashaka LGA in Taraba hosted one of the largest empowerment events of its kind, serving as a pilot initiative where over 1,000 women were uplifted through a similar economic empowerment event.

“They gained not just skills but the confidence to thrive. Beneficiaries received assets to help support their livelihoods, including four agro-processing machines, 10 hairdressing kits, 20 sewing machines and 20 clippers.

“Additionally, 13 Women’s Savings and Loan Groups (SLGs) were established in Toungo. Each of these initiatives serves as a stepping stone toward economic independence and self-sufficiency for families that would otherwise depend on our dwindling resources.

“It is important to note that, in addition to empowering women and youth groups, our partnership also addresses the needs of pastoralists.

“Currently, over 100,000 cattle have been vaccinated across both sectors of the park, Gashaka and Gumti, ensuring the safeguarding of our households.

“This partnership has also created jobs for our unemployed youths; over 70 rangers have been selected, trained and are currently engaged in protecting our invaluable park resources.

“This effort not only strengthens our conservation initiatives but also allows the participation of the indigenous people in the management of our essential resources,” he said.

Mrs Nedo Kafulto, Adamawa Commissioner for Women’s Affairs, said it was gratifying to see such efforts come to life while noting its tremendous impact on women in particular and society in general.

“It’s an honour to stand before you this morning on behalf of Gov. Umaru Fintri of Adamawa and the First Lady. I commend the ANI Foundation and everyone involved in this lovely initiative,” she said.

Mr Amos Hamman, Conservator of Park, Gashaka Gumti National Park, said the initiative, sponsored by the ANI Foundation and implemented by Roshan Renewables, began with the signing of a partnership agreement with the National Park Service in 2017.

“This programme started when the NPS went into a partnership with ANI in 2017, and the essence was to see that within the support zone of the park, they have something to do that will reflect the importance of the natural resources in the park,” he said.

In his remarks, Dr George Okeyoyin, ANI Foundation’s Senior Strategic Adviser, said the impact of livelihood support in effective conservation could not be overemphasised.

“It is important that we provide alternative means of livelihood for the support communities for them to be able to support the conservation efforts in the Gashaka Gumti National Park, and that is why we are here today.

“I want to acknowledge the role of the NPS and ANI Foundation in this notable programme. It is vital to mention also that the foundation is doing all these so that beneficiaries will support its conservation efforts,” Okeyoyin said.

Mr Happy Amos, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Roshan Renewables, the implementing partner of the scheme, said over N30 million has been saved by the women’s savings and loan groups in Toungo in one year.

“Initially, we didn’t give money to them. We still don’t give them money even at this stage. The arrangement is that we offer them low-interest loans, and it’s usually based on their needs.

“There are some women who only need N200,000 or N100,000. Some women even need just N30,000 to improve and expand their business, and we give them this at zero interest rate,” she said.

Some of the beneficiaries, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), lauded the efforts of the foundation towards improving their livelihood, stating that their lives have not remained the same since the coming of ANI.

One of the beneficiaries, Grace Emmanuel, said a lot has changed in her life with the support she got from ANI Foundation.

“I don’t bother about what to eat or how to send my children to school anymore since I got the support from ANI, through which I am able to get loans, produce and sell my products in the community and beyond,” she noted.

Mrs Florence Dauda, another beneficiary, was also full of praises for the foundation, saying its coming was the best thing that has ever happened to the community.

“We used to envy the women at the Gashaka end of the park because of the things we heard ANI was doing there.

“We are now involved, and you can see the array of products we have on ground due to the savings and loan groups through the empowerment initiative,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Peter Amine

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