By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The World Bank, over the weekend, released its scorecard and end-of-project reports on its Implementation of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) program, with Anambra State beating 22 other States to win overall best-performing States in Communication and Procurement Competency while emerging second runner-up on five other places.
According to the release by the World Bank Senior Environmental Specialist and Task Team Leader, Dr. Joy Agene, Anambra State came top on Communication with its robust and effective outreach and on its Procurement Competency; it also came first runners up on Civil Work, Engineering & Bioremediation, Environmental Safeguards, Social Safeguards, Workflow turn around and Transparency & Integrity.
NEWMAP, which started in 2012 was a Federal Government project sponsored by the World Bank with a view to mitigating the effects of soil and land degradation in targeted ecological sites across the 23 states where NEWMAP was implemented.
“The award ceremony, is aimed at recognizing outstanding states who through the project have positively transformed the lives of residents of benefiting communities, ensuring environmental sustainability through erosion and watershed management infrastructure investments, climate change response and project management, among others,” the statement added.
Presenting the award, the Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, who commended Anambra State for its exceptional performance, hailed the Project management unit for its outstanding performance.
The Minister who was represented by his Special Assistant, Abdulhadi Abdullahi noted that NEWMAP was conceived in 2012 to deal with the ravaging effect of gully erosion and other forms of land degradation in targeted watersheds as well as enhance the livelihood of beneficiary communities.
Receiving the awards, Anambra State Project Coordinator, Michael Ivenso expressed gratitude to the World Bank and the Federal Ministry of Environment for the unique opportunity provided for Anambra State to address the issue of environmental sustainability through the NEWMAP opportunity.
He commended the staff of the PMU for their diligence and tenacity as well as the State Government, for its support in ensuring that the lives and livelihoods of the people within the erosion-prone areas are impacted.
On his part, the National Project Coordinator, Dr. Salisu Dahiru enjoined the governments of beneficiary states to ensure the sustainability of the various projects in their states as the NEWMAP project winds down.
Anambra State NEWMAP Hauls in World Bank and Federal Government Awards.
The World Bank, over the weekend, released its scorecard and end-of-project reports on its Implementation of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) program, with Anambra State beating 22 other States to win overall best-performing States in Communication and Procurement Competency while emerging second runner-up on five other places.
According to the release by the World Bank Senior Environmental Specialist and Task Team Leader, Dr. Joy Agene, Anambra State came top on Communication with its robust and effective outreach and on its Procurement Competency; it also came first runners up on Civil Work, Engineering & Bioremediation, Environmental Safeguards, Social Safeguards, Workflow turn around and Transparency & Integrity.
NEWMAP, which started in 2012 was a Federal Government project sponsored by the World Bank with a view to mitigating the effects of soil and land degradation in targeted ecological sites across the 23 states where NEWMAP was implemented.
“The award ceremony, is aimed at recognizing outstanding states who through the project have positively transformed the lives of residents of benefiting communities, ensuring environmental sustainability through erosion and watershed management infrastructure investments, climate change response and project management, among others,” the statement added.
Presenting the award, the Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, who commended Anambra State for its exceptional performance, hailed the Project management unit for its outstanding performance.
The Minister who was represented by his Special Assistant, Abdulhadi Abdullahi noted that NEWMAP was conceived in 2012 to deal with the ravaging effect of gully erosion and other forms of land degradation in targeted watersheds as well as enhance the livelihood of beneficiary communities.
Receiving the awards, Anambra State Project Coordinator, Michael Ivenso expressed gratitude to the World Bank and the Federal Ministry of Environment for the unique opportunity provided for Anambra State to address the issue of environmental sustainability through the NEWMAP opportunity.
He commended the staff of the PMU for their diligence and tenacity as well as the State Government, for its support in ensuring that the lives and livelihoods of the people within the erosion-prone areas are impacted.
On his part, the National Project Coordinator, Dr. Salisu Dahiru enjoined the governments of beneficiary states to ensure the sustainability of the various projects in their states as the NEWMAP project winds down.