The British Council EU-Act programme has ended all it’s 5 year activities across Sokoto State, with a called to state government and civil society organisations (CSOs) and other relevant stakeholders to sustain successes recorded within the period of the project.
The ACT National Programme Manager, Mr Damilare Babalola, made the plea at the state close out event at Dankani Guest Hotel, in Sokoto State.
Mr Babalola who was represented by the Component One Manager, Dr. Ifeoma Chukwuma, said whatever has beginning also has an end.
” For us, it has been such a great 5-year journey, it’s been a privilege operating in many different and dynamic contexts, and locations, including here in Sokoto State,” She noted.
According to her, the Programme was funded by the European Union and is being implemented by the British Council.
She further said it was to enhance the credibility and role of CSOs as drivers-of-change for sustainable development in Nigeria adding that it was also to provide organisational capacity development support to selected CSOs in 10 states including Sokoto across the 6 geo-political zones of the country
Sokoto state was one of the focal states selected for ACT’s implementation, specifically in this state 24 CSOs comprising of 19 NGOs working within the metropolis, 5 CBOs, FBOs and Associations working in the rural and semi-urban locations.
” we have also productively engaged with 4 CSO networks and coordinated strategic dialogue with critical government agencies including (Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Sokoto State Revenue Service, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and Office of SA NGOs, Donor, and Human Rights) in the past 6 years of working with CSO partners in this state.
” this has been a fabulous opportunity to see how our programme intervention has translated into meaningful outcomes and positive change – by the partners ACT has supported.
” we have seen rapid, progressive, and meaningful change in the operations of the 24 CSOs that we worked with in your state.
” our partners have demonstrated and affirmed our strong belief that through tailor-made training, coaching, mentoring and peer-to-peer learning, and supporting an enabling operating environment, CSOs are indeed critical agents of sustainable development, who can work hand-in-hand with the state government and reap the mutual benefits and rewards.
” we have seen an improvement in the capacities and capabilities of CSOs to pursue effective policy advocacy, strategic and constructive dialogue, and engagement with government, as well as effective and efficient project implementation at the community level,” she added.
She expressed hope that the CSOs will continue to leverage the skills, knowledge, and experience acquired in partnering with the ACT Programme for the betterment of the state, the people and progress of their organizations.
Also, in his remarks, EU-ACT State Focal Person Alh. Musa Muhammad Wamakko, Spoke extensively on the six year’s impact of the peogramme within it six years
Wamakko acknowledged the performance of all CSO’s and other stakeholders who worked tirelessly for the actualization of the set goals of the programme.
Also speaking, the Commissioner Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Balarabe Musa Kadade, commended the untiring efforts of EU-ACT and all Partners, host MDAs who have been working to implement multiple interventions programme aimed at addressing socioeconomic inbalance in the state.
Kadade who was represented by the Director Budget of the ministry, Buhari Umar, will employ sustainable mechanism to ensure transparency and accountability in the delivery of EU-ACT peogramme as government approved over N3bn in 2024 budget to support development partners in the state.
Other Speakers at the occasion included EU-ACT Monitoring and Evaluation Adviser, Iliya Ambi, Commissioner of Information, Sambo Bello Danchadi, Director General Sokoto State Agency For Human Rights, Donor Agencies and Non Governmental Organization Alhaji Shehu Muhammad Goronyo, State Secretary of Joint National of Persons Living With Disabilities Mukhtar Tudun Doki and District Head of Gagi Alh. Sani Umar Jabbi among others.
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