The Permanent Secretary of Ecological Fund Office, Engr. Goni M. Sheikh has disclosed that the Ecological Fund Office (EFO) is ready to enter into technical cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization – UNIDO in order to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Office. The Permanent Secretary made this known in Abuja on W at the end of a presentation by a six-man Technical Team from UNIDO on working visit to his Office to discuss areas where the international organization can partner with the EFO to enhance effective service delivery. Engr. Goni also mentioned the development of GIS Database, Capacity Building and enhanced Monitoring and Evaluation Capacity as areas where the EFO would like to co-operate with UNIDO. In this regard, a six-man Technical Committee of equal representation from EFO and UNIDO has been constituted to prepare a working document on the proposed partnership, spell out the cost implications to both sides, highlight the roles and responsibility of each party as well as draw up a workable timeline for effective implementation of the technical cooperation. Earlier on, the leader of the team and Regional Director of UNIDO (Nigeria), Dr Partrick Kormawa, has listed development of industrial capacity, environmental sustainability, promotion of trade and commerce with emphasis on poverty reduction, employment generation and wealth creation as well as human capital development as areas where UNIDO's technical competence can be of immense benefit to the EFO. He also referred to a newly introduced Resource Clean Programme by his Agency to address emerging environmental issues relevant to the mandate of the Office. The Permanent Secretary seized the opportunity of the visit by the technical team to reiterate the commitment of the EFO in addressing the myriads of ecological problems facing the country; and assured the public that the Office is prepared to adopt best practices to improve its project implementation strategy and ensure that ecological projects are not only carried out to specification but completed on time so as to give value for money. Apart from the Permanent Secretary, the presentation was also attended by Alhaji Habibu Dankadai, Director in the Permanent Secretary's Office, Mr. Jude Mekwunye - Director, Soil and Flood Control Department and Mr. Mohammadu Maccido, Director Pollution Control; while the UNIDO Regional Director was accompanied to EFO by the Project Manager, Dr. Grace Ohayo, Deputy UNIDO Representative, Dr, Raymond Travaces and two senior Environment Experts, Miss Ifeoma Okonkwo and Mr. Oluyomi Banjo, respectively.
Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria