The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu had a strategic session with the Executive Secretary of the Niger Basin Authority(NBA), Mr Kocou Armand Houanye and members of his delegation who are on a tour of all NBA member countries.
NBA Member States include the following countries that border the Niger River: Niger, Benin, Chad, Guinea, Cote d ‘Ivoire, Mali, Nigeria, Cameroon and Burkina Faso.
Discussions were focused extensively on the Program for Integrated Development and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Niger Basin (PIDACC) a multinational initiative funded by the African Development Bank to reduce the silting of the Niger River and improve the climate resilience of vulnerable populations whilst also promoting climate-smart agriculture, fisheries, and agro-pastoral activities.
The program also focuses on poverty reduction by empowering rural farmers, women, and youths with farming equipment and training for agribusinesses.