The Chief of Mambilla, His Royal Majesty Dr. Shehu Audu Baju II, has thrown his weight behind the Taraba State Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project, describing it as a catalyst for sustainable community development across Sardauna Local Government Area.
The royal father gave the assurance while receiving the ACReSAL Community Revolving Fund team, led by the project's Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Alhaji Abbas Kaigama, at his palace.
Dr. Shehu Audu Baju II commended the initiative for bringing development closer to the grassroots and pledged the full support of the traditional institution to ensure transparency, accountability, and effective management of the Community Revolving Fund. He urged beneficiaries to take ownership of the programme, stressing that community-driven projects deliver lasting benefits.
The project recorded impressive participation in Mbamga and Gembu communities, where residents elected Community Revolving Fund Management Committees, inaugurated Boards of Trustees, and established Common Interest Groups. Farmers, traders, women, and youths also took part in sensitisation sessions on the operation of the revolving fund and the importance of accountability.
Representing the Chairman of Sardauna Local Government Area, the Vice Chairman, Rev. Paul G. Ngantem, described the initiative as a people-centred intervention that empowers communities to drive their own development. He called on the newly elected committee members to justify the confidence reposed in them through selfless service.
Speaking on behalf of the State Project Coordinator, Dr. Yakubu Giwa Clement, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Alhaji Abbas Kaigama, explained that each participating community would access a Community Revolving Fund of twenty-five thousand United States dollars. He clarified that the fund is a revolving loan for Common Interest Groups and not a grant, urging beneficiaries to manage it responsibly to ensure sustainability.
Also speaking, the Leader of FONGO, Professor Bashir Abubakar Bashir, emphasised that the success of the programme depends on unity, honesty, and accountability. He noted that strong community institutions are essential for environmental restoration and inclusive socio-economic development.
The exercise ended with the election of ten executives each for the Mbamga and Gembu Community Revolving Fund structures, a development expected to strengthen local participation and promote climate-resilient livelihoods across the Mambilla Plateau.
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