By Godwin Agia, Jalingo
The Africa Nature Investors, ANI, Foundation has commissioned a Women Development Centre at Tonga (Bodel) in Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State, as part of efforts to turn communities surrounding the Gashaka Gumti National Park into economically empowered entrepreneurs.
The centre, established through the partnership between the National Park Service and ANI Foundation, and supported by the European Union, EU, is expected to serve women in Serti, Bodel, Goje and Mayo Selbe communities, while three schools were also commissioned by the Foundation in the area.
Speaking at the commissioning on Friday, the Executive Director of ANI Foundation, Mr. Tunde Morakinyo, said the Foundation has continued to attract support, including funding from the European Union, to drive development initiatives in and around the national park.
He highlighted the Foundation’s interventions, including support for farmers through beekeeping initiatives and the vaccination of thousands of cattle, and disclosed plans to construct three blocks of classrooms in each community across Gashaka Local Government Area to improve access to education.
“The Women’s Development Centre was designed to provide a platform for women to come together, acquire relevant skills and improve their economic opportunities,” he said.
Also speaking, the Conservator of Park at Gashaka Gumti National Park, Mr. George Karngong, described the project as another milestone in the partnership between the National Park Service and ANI Foundation, saying it would provide a platform for skills acquisition, cooperative activities, vocational training, agricultural processing and entrepreneurship.
According to him, the Foundation’s other interventions includes alternative livelihood programmes, scholarships, construction of classrooms with teachers’ quarters, provision of potable water, cattle vaccination, volunteer ranger initiatives and environmental restoration, noting that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Governor Agbu Kefas’ development agenda on empowerment, infrastructure and job creation.
“The centre will also serve as a hub for the several women’s savings groups established by ANI Foundation in the communities surrounding the park, to enable them mobilise savings, exchange ideas, access training and establish small-scale businesses to improve household incomes and economic independence,” he explained.
The Leader of the European Union Delegation, Mr. Iusan Liviu, expressed satisfaction with the initiative, describing it as a positive step towards community development and institutional strengthening, and assured that the EU would continue to support ANI Foundation’s interventions to improve community welfare and strengthen management of the park.
In his remarks, Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu kefas, represented by the Commissioner for Women and Child Development, Mrs. Mary Sinjen, Kefas’ commended ANI Foundation for its contributions, and urged beneficiaries to develop a strong maintenance culture to ensure the centre serves present and future generations.
The Chairman of Gashaka Local Government Council, Hon. Umar Alluran Gari, described ANI Foundation as a dependable partner in progress and urged residents to continue supporting the Foundation and the National Park Service, while calling for intensified efforts to address the increasing influx of people into the park.
In the same vein, Lamdo Gashaka, Alhaji Zubairu Hammangabdo, who spoke on behalf of traditional rulers from Bodel and Mayo Selbe, acknowledged the Foundation’s empowerment projects and urged residents to sustain support for the Foundation and the Park Service.
“ANI is here for progress. They have impacted positively on our people. Let us support conservation and the development of Gumti National Park,” he said.
