Foundation empowers over 200 youth, women in Taraba
By Victor Gai, Jalingo
At least 215 women and youth have received support from the Africa Nature Investors (ANI), a not-for-profit organization that is involved in conservation at the Gashaka Gumti National Park in Taraba State.
The foundation on Saturday led a team of journalists to witness the intervention programmes they are involved in which includes empowerment of saving and loan cooperatives and commercial motorcycle owners in Serti, Gashaka Local Government Area.
According to the community liaison officer of the foundation, David Peter, there is a non-interest N30 million rural revolving loan going around for groups in Gashaka area alone.
About seven groups visited actually testified of the support they have gotten from the foundation which have benefitted their members.
One of the beneficiaries and leader of Hadin Kai Group, Francisca Uche, said “we sell shares to members and also give loans to members.
In Mayo Salbe, about four women groups spoke glowingly on the foundation.
A beneficiary, Aisha Ishaku, who spoke on behalf of the groups said, “we have been given loans by ANI, we help one another. We have been able to help our husbands”.
The third class chief of Mayo Salbe, Thomas Shuaibu, appreciated the efforts of the foundation in wild life conservation and the empowerment of his subjects.
Shuaibu said: “we wont allow people to keep destroying our ecology. Many kidnappers have been threatening the park but ANI helped in curbing that by employing our youths to secure the park.
“ANI does not have any interest such as mining interest. I pray that the park shall be restored to its full potentials.
“So many hunters from within Nigeria and foreigners use to hunt for animals but with the coming of ANI such has been checked”.
