Illmi Children’s Fund (ICF), with funding from the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, has empowered residents of Katampe “Ruga,” a Fulani Community in the FCT with toolkits and dairy equipment.
The Executive Director of ICF, Mrs Maryam Augie-Abdulmumin, said this in a statement released on Friday in Lagos.
The ICF, through its Ambassador’s Special Self Help (ASSH) Project, aims to empower the Fulani community of Katampe in its dairy producing efforts.
The ASSH project focuses on improving the socio-economic well-being of the community by enhancing their dairy milk production and overall livelihood.
The statement quoted the Acting Deputy Chief and Counsellor for Economic Affairs at the U.S Mission, Ms Christine Harbaugh, as saying that the empowerment focused on Africa and it was Nigeria’s turn to benefit from the initiative.
“The self-help programme started in 1964 in Togo and quickly spread across our missions in Africa as grassroots assistance that allows American Embassies to respond quickly to local requests for small, community-based development projects.
“The programme is unique and allows our embassy to support communities directly and see tangible results within a short period as we are witnessing.
“We applaud ICF on its efforts to cooperate with your community to improve your people’s livelihoods and preserve your traditions and culture,” Harbaugh said.
Augie-Abdulmumin thanked the US Mission, the government agencies, and the Fulani community for their support in making the ASSH Project a success.
“We celebrate not just the completion of the programme, but also the remarkable progress made by the participants.
“Their dedication to learning and commitment to improvement are truly commendable. The distribution of essential toolkits and dairy equipment today marks a crucial step in further enhancing the Fulani community’s capabilities.
“These resources will enable them to increase milk production, reduce spoilage, and ultimately improve their livelihoods,” Augie-Abdulmumin said.
The statement reveals that the highlights of the ASSH project was to train the Fulani communities in modern milk production techniques, such as processing, packaging, storage, and preservation to significantly reduce wastage.
It also featured livestock feed production training through the production of animal feeds from readily available resources to enhance improved cattle nutrition and efficiency.
The project similarly incorporated financial literacy and business management training to empower community dwellers to manage their finances effectively.
Another aspect of the project is animal health training, which equips the participants with essential knowledge and skills to identify common cattle disease and administer the proper medication for improved animal health and well-being.