The Netherlands Development Agency, SNV, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Budget and National Planning in Abuja to operate in full capacity in the country.
The MoU was signed on behalf of the government by Clem Agba, minister of State, Budget and National Planning, while, Anjo Van Toorn, the Country director to Nigeria and Ghana of SNV Netherlands signed on behalf of his organisation.
The Minister at the ceremony said SNV should support the poor rural farmers in Nigeria in line with the current administration’s policy of “Grow what you eat and eat what you grow.”
He also appreciated the Netherlands for its interest in the development and well being of Nigeria and Nigerians.
In response, Anjo said that SNV would bring to bear its 57 years of experience to support the government and the people of Nigeria in the areas of food system, renewable energy, climate smart agriculture, water and sanitation.
The Country Director, who has been in Ghana for two years, will from now operate between Nigeria and Ghana and also expand the activities and programmes of the agency in the country.
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Fielding questions from the press after the ceremony, the Country Director said the agency would empower the women by encouraging them to take up leadership roles and productive economic activities in the country.
He also revealed that the youths who form over 50 percent of the nation’s population would greatly benefit from the organisation’s programmes as SNV would design activities to give the youth a good perspective and a good life in order to build and sustain a stable society.
SNV would equally assist to strengthen governance in Nigeria through partnership with civil society organisations and the private sectors.
Adding his voice to that of the country director, Emmanuel Akinwekomi, SNV Partnership Facilitator in the 2SCALE programme (the largest agribusiness incubation programme in Africa) said, SNV operations in Nigeria would immensely contribute to the transformation of Nigeria food system, renewable energy, water and sanitation.
SNV is a non-profit organisation, founded in 1965 in Hague will focus on development activities in agriculture, energy, water, sanitation, hygiene and climate. Besides Nigeria and Ghana, the agency also operates in 24 other countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
