Partnerships between PIND and governments at the federal and state levels have resulted in positive policy shifts, re-direction of development funds, effective people participation in the decision-making process as well as in tangible gains in agricultural production, value addition, market linkages and the development of the small business sector. With more active collaboration with key government agencies and other development partners, quite a lot will be achieved in the Niger Delta region.
Charting a Way Forward for the Niger Delta
PIND’s Executive Director, Dr. Dara Akala (left) with Federal Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr. Usani Uguru Usani at the NIger Delta Way Forward Technical Workshop that held in Abuja in January 2016
PIND in partnership with four non-governmental organizations – Facility for Oil Sector Transparency (FOSTER), Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Program (NSRP), Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN), Nextier Advisory; and four government ministries/agencies – Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Presidential Amnesty Program, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Ministry of Environment, came up with the Niger Delta Way Forward (NDWF) program. It is aimed at moving the region from stabilization to sustainable development. The program will focus on reviewing existing plans for Niger Delta development and refining them into a better coordinated operational framework for stabilization and sustainable development of the region ensuring that development efforts in the region are targeted to deliver the desired impacts and are not being duplicated.
The NDWF Program is still in its stage of infancy. So far, we have organised youth forums where individuals were brought in from across different ethnic and regional groups to discuss their concerns and the region’s future. We organized a two-day technical workshop with the theme “From Stabilization to Sustainable Development” aimed at reinforcing and rallying a cohesive strategy for government agencies to work together in the region. The new operational framework will tackle six key areas namely security, rule of law, economic diversification, environment, governance and social well-being and is expected to serve as a tool for the Federal Government to engage with the region.
Cross River State Growth & Development Strategy
PIND current Executive Director and erstwhile Program Director, Dr. Dara Akala; Cross River State Chief Economic Adviser, Dr. Francis Ntamu; PIND’s then-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 May 1, 2016
PIND, in collaboration with the Cross River State Planning Commission and other development partners, is driving the process of producing a 30-Year Growth and Development Strategy (GDS) for the state.
The work on the GDS followed the signing of an MOU at the Cross River State capital city of Calabar on April 30, 2016, which empowered PIND and 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.
The GDS is a policy/strategic plan around the economic pillars of agriculture, infrastructure, energy and tourism. The plan which will be in the short, medium and long terms aims to unleash its economic transformation from a subsistence ‘civil service’ economy to a globally competitive, modern industrial and service economy.
The plan would attempt to harness the intellectual and skill profiles of the people by taking advantage of its location and defining a future that is characterized by the capacity to live harmoniously, productively and effectively leverage regional/national opportunities. Expected outcomes include sustainable new jobs, social and financial inclusion, functional learning, rule of law, wellness and governance that will catalyze poverty reduction, infrastructure supply, and generally speaking, triple prosperity for the people.
Below are highlights of other government partnerships in 2016:
- Federal Ministry of Agriculture: On September 8th, 2016, GIZ and PIND, in collaboration with public and private sector partners, as well as the federal government, hosted a one-day National Cassava Summit, with the theme “Towards a U.S.$5 billion Per Annum Cassava Industry in the Next Five Years.” This multi-stakeholder discussion yielded policy recommendations and a platform from which to improve the development of the cassava value chain in a way that realizes the sector’s growth potential and benefits all stakeholders
- Delta State: PIND was appointed a member of Delta State Government Steering Committee on Job Creation to help set direction and delivery strategy for agriculture development in the state aimed at creating jobs for the teeming youth population.
- NDDC: PIND was appointed to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)’s Think-Tank to shape strategy for achieving sustainable regional development.
- Ondo State: PIND is working with the government of Ondo State to train young graduates in commercial agriculture in collaboration with the Wealth Creation Agency and Chevron Nigeria Limited.
- Edo State: PIND in collaboration with the Edo State Ministries of Agriculture and Lands & Surveys facilitated the acquisition of 4,500ha of land for commercial cassava farming in partnership with Orogho community and 50 local farmers
- Imo State: In Imo State, PIND is working with the State’s Peace & Security Committee through our Partners for Peace (P4P) state chapter in addressing major conflict issues and building enduring peace in various communities
- Imo State: The fifth edition of the Niger Delta Development Forum that held last year in Owerri, Imo State, was organized with the hands-on involvement of the Imo State Government, and highest level of state government representation, with the Deputy State Governor in attendance
