APPEALS Project: World Bank Task Team lauds Kano State Coordinating Office on project implementation
The World Bank Task Team Leader, Dr. Adetunji Oredipe has applauded the effort the Kano State Coordinating Office of Agro-processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Project for the successes recorded so far on the implementation of the entire project.
He made the commendation in a keynote address at the FG/ World Bank 8th Implementation Support Mission held between 16th and 18th June 2022 in Kano.
The World Bank TTL, who also commended the Federal Ministry of Finance for its continued support to the project, said the main objective of the mission is to review implementation progress across all project components and to ensure that the Project is on track to achieve its stated objectives.
In his remarks, the National Project Coordinator, APPEALS Project Nigeria, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Jobdi noted that the project had been able to support the target beneficiaries thereby improving their socio-economic status.
According to the statement signed by the Communication Officer of the Project, Rabi Mustapha Sadiq, Jobdi stressed the need for the principal officers and other executive officers of the project to go out and assess the land mark achievements the project had been able to record in the state.
He lauded the state Deputy Governor, Dr Nasiru Gawuna his passion and support as well as his concern for the project adding that the State Project Coordinator Malam Hassan Ibrahim, Malam Hassan Ibrahim had also made the entire project proud for his commitment to ensure its success.
According to him, the mission was aimed at reviewing implementation progress across all project components, including implementation status of the Women and Youth Empowerment Program and support to Commodity Interest Group (CIGs).
Also speaking, the State Project Coordinator, Malam Hassan Ibrahim, said the state government had gone far towards establishing Kano Agric Microfinance Bank to enable farmers have a bank of their own to enable them remain in business.
He told the meeting that the state Deputy Governor was in CBN for the registration of the bank as part of an effort to have access to finance among farmers in the state.
According to him, the state government was also making an effort to form an Association of APPEALS Project beneficiaries to enable them to continue to manage their business even after the winding up of the project.
He said the APPEALS project had transformed the lives of many beneficiaries by enhancing their income through the introduction of modern technologies.
"As far as Kano is concerned, APPEALS Project has done a lot for the state, that is why we will continue to appreciate its contribution to the state," he said.
Some of the beneficiaries that spoke at the occasion expressed happiness as project had transformed their lives through the introduction of modern farming technologies.
One of the female beneficiaries said through the project, she had been able to settle the school fees of her child promptly while another beneficiary said the new technology of making Gurasa had saved her from the trouble of burning hands.