The Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, NEWMAP Ondo State Chapter has been rated the winner for its best performance in River Training/Waterways Management and in Finance Management.
The declaration was made at the Closing ceremony and award night organized by World Bank for all NEWMAP participating States In Nigeria held at LadiKwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.
At the occasion, The Minister, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi lauded the effort of the World Bank initiative at reducing vulnerability to gully erosion and other forms of land degradationand at the same time enhancing the livelihoods of beneficiary communities.
The Minister represented by his special Assistant, Abdullahi Abdullahi noted that the evidences of NEWMAP achievement are visible all over the 23 beneficiary states and the positive impacts have been felt all over the country stressing that NEWMAP has reclaimed over 23,000 hectares degraded lands and fixing of gully erosion related issues among others.
Speaking on the suitability of all NEWMAP projects in the country, the World Bank NEWMAP task team leader Dr. Joy Agene and NEWMP National Project Coordinator, Dr. Salisu Dahiru called for continuous maintenance of the projects for the benefit of the next ten decades to come.
According to a statement by the Communications Officer, Mrs Nike Fagbe, Ondo State NEWMAP became credit effective in joining the participating states in 2017 when the counterpart funding was paid by the Ondo State Government under the administration of the state Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN .
In Ondo State, NEWMAP projects sites include Rejuvenation of 100 hectares at Ala Forest Reserve in Akure North Local Government, Festus AdetulaErosion Site, Owo, Orisunmibare Erosion Site, Ijoka, Akure,Adesunkojo River Jordan Erosion Site, Irele and Ayeka Gully Erosion Site, Okitipupa.
Others are procurement of 2 no Amphibious Excavators and A Low Bed Trailer and procurement of community interest groups waste management materials like Tricycle, wheel barrows among others.