The Edo State government, as part of effort to diversify the economy of the state, has partnered IDH to hold a five-day training programme at the Conference Hall of the Forestry Commission in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
The training programme drew participants from the Edo State Ministry of Agriculture, EdoGIS, Climate Change Unit, Department of Environmental Assessment and Climate Change, Ministry of Environment and Sustainability and Edo State Forestry Commission, and was aimed at producing, protecting and preserving the forest for optimal benefits.
The Acting Chairman, Edo State Forestry Commission, Mr Edward Obiaw, while briefing journalists at the end of the training, commended Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, for his visionary leadership to restore the degraded forest, conserve what is left and manage them for future benefits.
The Forestry Commission boss said Edo State in comparison with other states stands tall in Nigeria today and rubbing shoulders with other sister states like Cross River, adding that Mr Governor’s vision on forest reserve in the state is second to none.
In a related development, the Senior Program Officer, IDH National lnitiatives for Sustainable and Climate Smart Oil Palm Smallholders Nigeria (NISCOPS), Adesoji Tella, said at the end of the training the trainees should be equipped to use the tools “Geofolio and SEPAL.I0” to monitor the changes within the forest reserve in Edo State, produce information for Edo State and participate in National Climate Change Programme such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC).
In a goodwill message on behalf of the Edo State government, the former Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Agriculture, Bashiru Kadiri, said this particular step of the training was in the right direction for the state to avoid any future disaster and to arrest every danger that might want to arise in the land.
