Meet ProjectRECOVER community volunteers in Ibaji
Climate Crisis and Livelihood Loss: How ProjectRECOVER is helping flood-affected Farmers in Nigeria’s Ibaji Community The 2022 flooding in Nigeria has been described as the most devastating flood in at least a decade and has been attributed to the climate crisis. The Ibaji local government area of Kogi state in Nigeria has consistently been one of the worst-affected areas due to its proximity to the merged Niger-Benue rivers and abundance of streams, with flood crises occurring almost every year. The most devastating floods occurred in 2007, 2012, 2018, 2020, and 2022.
Recently, BNI conducted a flood impact assessment in five affected communities. Our survey of the affected people revealed that their major concerns were an increase in illnesses and the loss of their livelihoods. The people of the Ibaji community are predominantly farmers. Although our initial plan was to provide food aid, we discovered that the affected families desired to return to farming, which is their major source of livelihood. Considering these findings, BNI launched ProjectRECOVER to enhance the livelihood recovery of smallholder farmers in flood-affected communities in Ibaji LGA, Kogi State.
With the support of our local partner, the Kogi State Chapter of the Young Pharmacist Group of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (YPG Kogi), the project aims to support affected farmers in Odeke, Iyano, Ejule-Ojebe, Iwala, and Onyedega communities by providing them with necessary resources, such as climate-resilient seedlings and other extension services. Also, the project will enable them to practice more sustainable and climate-smart agriculture while working together to make their communities more resilient to the impact of climate change.
Meet the volunteers
ProjectRECOVER lead: Pharm. Omachona Caroline Suzanna
“I am a pharmacist, and member of the Young Pharmacist Group YPG, Kogi State, the local partner for the project. I am passionate about humanity. As a young professional and resident of Ibaji, I am privileged to make a meaningful contribution to supporting my community in recovering from the impact of the flood crisis.”
#ProjectRECOVER community volunteer: Caleb Ojone Ocheje
“I am a graduate of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, and a resident of Ibaji, Kogi State. I joined this movement and project to serve as a mediator between my community and the Building Nations Initiative and to vividly spell out the vulnerability my community is facing presently.”
#ProjectRECOVER community volunteer: Ojade Sunday Bartholomew
“I am a graduate of Electronics Engineering, and resident of Odeke, Ibaji, Kogi State. I joined this project to serve my community, and through Building Nations Initiative, help Ibaji recover from the impact of the flood.”
#ProjectRECOVER community volunteer: Roseline Uyonwu.
“My name is Roseline Uyonwu. I’m a classroom teacher at L.A Primary School, Ibaji. I joined the project to support my community in recovering from the impact of the flood.”
#ProjectRECOVER community volunteer: Akoji Friday Ugbeda
“My name is Akoji Friday Ugbeda, a Civil Engineer and resident at Ejule ojebe, Ibaji, Kogi state. I joined this project to serve my community and help, through Building Nation Initiative, recover from impact of the flood.”