NEWMAP gets international award

The Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), has won the 2019 Sustainable Development Africa 2019 FY Award, organised by the World Bank Headquarters, Washington DC.

The Sustainable Development Africa event, which was coordinated by two Directors, Simeon K. Ehui and Ede Jorge Ijjasz-Vasquez, featured a total of eight World Bank-assisted projects in Africa.

The projects include the West Africa Coastal Areas Management programme, Senegal; Development Response to Displacement Impact Project, Uganda; Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) and Turning Sand into Water, Somalia, among others.

NEWMAP, which emerged runners-up following the Ugandan project, was recognised for its approach to environmental sustainability and impact on project beneficiaries across different communities in Nigeria.

NEWMAP Task Team Leader, Dr. Amos Abu, who led the Project’s presentation, with photographs and videos, disclosed that Nigerian Government had to approach the World Bank for assistance, in view of the high level of gully erosion devastation in several communities and the unaffordable cost of addressing the challenge.

The Edo State Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Dame Omoua Oni-Okpaku, disclosed that the partnership between the World Bank and Edo State Government had been very fruitful, as NEWMAP had restored hope to several households and communities in the state.

Dame Oni-Okpaku, who is the Chairman of NEWMAP State Steering Committee, restated Governor Godwin Obaseki’s commitment to projects that would change the lives of the people for the better.

Edo State NEWMAP Project Coordinator, John Adisa expressed delight with the rating of NEWMAP by the World Bank and pointed out that the lessons learnt from the competition would help the project staff across the country to re-strategise for greater productivity.

The NEWMAP implementation in Edo State has brought about effective intervention in the gully erosion problems in Auchi, Queen Ede, Benin City, Ekehuan, Benin City, Ewu and Ibore.