A European Union delegation, including its partners, Search for Common Ground Nigeria, Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta, and Stakeholders Democracy Network, has inspected a N11 billion cassava processing factory in Bayelsa State.
The ongoing Cassava processing Factory, a livelihood project, will include a driers, a water tank, sewage tank, a peeling machine and other equipment to enhance cassava processing at Nedugo community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.
The EU team was made up of Programme Manager, Regional Team for West Africa, Mr. Eric Pitoi and the Head of Section Governance and Human Rights, Mr. Ruben Alba Aguilera.
The Country Director, Search for Common Ground, Mr. AboutOutara and the Country Director, Stakeholders Democracy Network, Florence Abasi were part of the delegation that inspected the project on Tuesday.
Speaking during the visit, Head of Section Governance and Human Rights, Mr. Ruben Alba Aguilera described the cassava processing factory as one of the largest EU investments in the Niger Delta region.
Aguilera said the tour was to enable them see the project and also have the opportunity of discussing with the various stakeholders from the Federal, State and local communities to understand the difference the project will make.
He said, “This is one of the largest investments that the European Union is making for the benefit of the Niger Delta. We’re here together with the partners who implemented our programme which is worth over N11 billion.
“We came to see with our own eyes some of the investments that have taken place in the communities such as the one we’re visiting today.
And we also have the opportunity to discuss with the different stakeholders, federal, state authorities as well as and local leaders and the communities themselves to understand how this project is making a difference for them, and is trying to address the insecurity challenge that they are facing.”
The Country Director, Search for Common Ground, Mr. AboutOutara said they have worked with all the generations from children to elders and their message has always been peace.
Outara explained that the livelihood project is aimed at teaching the people how to fish rather than giving them fish and also teach the people how to live in peace.
“A wise man once said, give a man fish and you’ll feed him for one day, but teach him how to fish and you’ll feed him his whole life. But teach him how to live in peace with others. It’s not only for himself but it’s for all his children and all the people living even after him.
“So, this project that has been funded by the European Union, it’s what we are doing in this project, and I will call on our partners, SDN and PIND with whom we have been working for 20 months now.
“And, we have worked here in Nedugo. In Nedugo, we have worked with all generations, from children to the elders and what we told them is really how to live in peace.”
The SDN Country Director, Florence Abasi, in her remarks, said the livelihood project which covers 66 communities in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states is beyond training people on conflict transformation, and dialogue and conflict resolution.
“This particular project covers 66 communities in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta. As part of the project, beyond teaching people on conflict, transformation, dialogue, conflict resolution, we also recognised that we also needed to get involved in livelihood intervention.”
Earlier, the Ibenanaowei of Gbarain Kingdom, King Funpere Aka, who received the delegation in his palace, expressed appreciation to the EU and the partners for the project even as he described his domain as the most peaceful in Bayelsa State.
The Paramount Ruler of Nedugo community, Chief Michael Aka urged the EU and their partners to return to implement more projects for the community.
The Women Leader, Evangelist SeiyefaOtuagha, said the project, when completed will save the women much labour while the Chairman, Community Development Committee, Mr. George Duba, said it also benefit women from neighbouring communities.
Highpoint was the presentation of various pictures taken during engagements in the community to the Ibenanaowei of Gbarain Kingdom, King Funpere by the Country Director, Search for Common Ground, Mr. Outara.
