The Adamawa State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has empowered 2,500 households in Madagali Local Government Council with cash grants, vocational kits, and fish farming inputs, aimed at supporting post-insurgency recovery and livelihood restoration.
The empowerment exercise, held at the Gulak township stadium, is part of ongoing efforts to rebuild and strengthen communities affected by years of insurgency in northern Adamawa.
Flagging off the distribution, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri said the initiative would directly impact more than 10,000 people, helping to lift many out of poverty and stimulate local economic activities.
Governor Fintiri commended UNDP for its continued partnership in rebuilding conflict-affected communities. He called for the expansion of the programme to other areas, including Michika, Mubi North, Mubi South, Maiha, Gombi, and Hong. He urged beneficiaries to use the grants and materials judiciously to improve their livelihoods and foster sustainable development.
Permanent Secretary and Executive Secretary of the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), Dr. Celine Laori, explained that 1,500 households received business grants of N300,000 each, 500 others were given vocational kits, while 250 households benefited from fish farming inputs. She added that monitoring teams would track the utilisation of the support to ensure accountability and impact.
Traditional ruler, the Ptil Madagali, Dr. Ali Danburam, and the Chairman of Madagali Local Government, Simon Musa, both commended the state government and UNDP for their intervention, noting that the assistance would go a long way in reviving the local economy and reducing poverty.
A beneficiary, Mary Auta, who spoke on behalf of others, described the empowerment as a “dream come true,” expressing gratitude to the government and UNDP for their timely support. She pledged to utilise the funds and materials effectively.
Last month, UNDP signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Channels Television to strengthen collaboration on advancing Nigeria’s national development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The partnership aims to harness the media’s extensive reach and the UNDP’s expertise in sustainable development to shape public discourse and promote collective action nationwide.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, UNDP Nigeria Representative, Ms. Elsie G. Attafuah, described the partnership as a platform to elevate local voices and promote social change. “This partnership is about more than coverage — it is about shifting the narrative. It will provide a voice to Nigerians who are driving transformation at the community level and beyond,” she said. “By creating platforms for open development dialogue, we will ensure that the concerns of local communities, civil society organisations, and youth innovators are heard and recognised in policy discussions.”
