The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) signed a partnership agreement with Cross Rivers State Government on Saturday, April 30, to advance and facilitate sustainable development of Cross Rivers State.
This partnership feeds into the Cross River State Government’s 30-year development plan, and follows the Foundation’s previous work to increase collaboration with government at the state and federal level. Previously, PIND signed a partnership agreement in December 2015 with Ondo State Government’s Wealth Creation Agency for a pilot project to develop the agricultural entrepreneurship skills of young graduates through cultivation and processing of cassava, just a month after the 2015 Niger Delta Development Forum where representatives from Cross River, Imo, Delta and Abia State Governments showed their commitment to regional development. The Foundation also partook in the Niger Delta Way Forward Forum for stability and economic development of the region alongside development partners and the Federal government agencies and ministries, following engagements with the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
PIND Program Director Dr. Dara Akala, Cross River State Chief Economic Adviser Dr. Francis Ntamu, PIND Executive Director Mr. Sam Daibo, and Cross River State Chairman of the Strategic Policy Advisory Council Dr. Pius Tawo (from left to right) reading and signing the partnership agreement. This agreement took effect on the day of the signing
With this partnership, PIND will work through the office of the Chief Economic Adviser in cooperation with relevant state ministries and civil society organizations to: develop the state’s agricultural economy with emphasis on cocoa, cassava, aquaculture and oil palm value chains; produce a strategic document to help the state’s economic development planning; develop new strategies and policies for youth development; improve the state’s capacity for conflict mitigation and mediation; and support the state government in the selection of the right partners for specific sector development.
Along with deepening its relationship with state governments throughout the region, the Foundation is also reaching out to media houses with presence in the Niger Delta region to drive advocacy for agricultural development by helping sensitize key audiences in private and public sector on needed policy objectives for the promotion of pro-poor development in key sectors.
This Agreement took effect from May 1, 2016 while an enlarged stakeholders’ workshop to drill down on the details will follow in Calabar, Cross Rivers State shortly.
