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W’Bank, UN assure of support for Borno, N’East

By Njadvara Musa (Maiduguri) and Auwal Ahmad (Gombe)
08 April 2016   |   1:55 am
World Bank has concluded arrangement to support the North East zone on financing youths empowerment and Community Social Development Programme (CSDP).
PHOTO: www.voanews.com

PHOTO: www.voanews.com

World Bank has concluded arrangement to support the North East zone on financing youths empowerment and Community Social Development Programme (CSDP).

World Bank consultant, Prof. Foluso Okunmadewa, disclosed this on Wednesday in Gombe while speaking during the bank’s meeting on additional financing for the zone.

He assured that the bank would do everything possible to ensure that states within the region benefit from the gesture.

According to him, the two-day meeting would strategise on how to support youths empowerment in communities in these areas.

Speaking at the occasion, Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, who was represented by his Deputy, Charles Iliya, lauded the World Bank for supporting the North East through its programmes.

Also, the United Nations (UN) has disclosed its readiness to partner with Borno State government to tackle poverty in the North East sub-region of the country.

The UN Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Saleh Region, Mr. Toby Lanzer, disclosed this in Maiduguri after his team visited Bama town on Tuesday along with Governor Kashim Shettima.

He stated that the UN is ready to aid Borno State to address the humanitarian situation in Borno and the North East.

His words: “I think my visit to Borno is a testimony that indeed the United Nations show concerns about the state and North East region. The humanitarian consequence here is great, the humanitarian situation here terribly serious and it is one of the worse in the world; as we saw in Konduga and Bama on the road.

“Villages have been burnt down, markets destroyed and lives completely wrecked. I think it is important that international communities stand with people of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and the Nigerian government.”

Dankwambo said the gesture to people in the zone is timely, adding that Gombe State has also benefited from World Bank Agricultural Development Project.

Lanzer added: “Our real concerns are how kids get back to schools. To help farmers get better harvest and help stablise situations in the real sense of what United Nations is after. I am so impressed with Governor Kashim Shettima, his commitments to the people of Borno is great. The United Nations is ready to join hands with the state government to create jobs for the youths, as you are aware about 2.2 million people were displaced in this region.”

He said $200 million has been set aside for the North East but urged other countries to assist the region.

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