By Abigael Joshua

The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) says its marketplace for ACReSAL project recorded and delivered huge investment through land restoration.

Dr Joy Agene, Senior Environmental Specialist, World Bank and Task Team Leader, ACReSAL, said this at the ACReSAL Marketplace showcase in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to Agene, the marketplace for ACReSAL is where we have a huge investment that is saving millions of land in targeted watersheds.

“Marketplace is also a technology where water is conserved in dryland to ensure that we are able to produce, sell and make income.”

Similarly, Mrs Ellysar Baroudy, Practice Manager, Environment, World Bank, expressed satisfaction with the project, saying it had really been an example within the whole World Bank portfolio.

She, however, said that the World bank was faced with challenges of climate change, degradation, as well as finance.

Baroudy urged ACReSAL to be resolute in spite of the challenges being faced at the point of discharging their work.

In the same vein, Mr Abdulhamid Umar, National Project Coordinator, ACReSAL said that the project was people-oriented and would sustain livelihoods.

He noted that the project had touched so many lives especially the down trodden in communities.

Dr Segun Babarinde, Director Water Support Services, Ministry of water Resources and Sanitation, said the ACReSAL marketplace had showcased a collaborative effort among the stakeholders.

“I want to thank all the states for being very, resolute in ensuring the achievement of this glorious idea by the government.

Mr George Stanley, Director, International Economic Relations Department, Ministry of Finance, said that there was no doubt that the project had delivered on various aspects of environment, agriculture, water resources among others.

According to him, in special terms, the project has improved the resilience and livelihood of the communities through wide range interventions carefully implemented by institutional partners.

Also, Mr Luka Ayedo, Etsu Kwali, said that the intervention of market place project was already yielding excellent results.

“The project has come to terminate hunger in our community. The intervention has impacted us for good and I want to say the World Bank has invested rightly.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event which showcased the project’s remarkable impacts and results since its inception in 2022, featured community representatives with notable outputs/products highlighting the project successes. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker