This Innovation pilot project trained 20 women engaged in agriculture on converting poultry dropping to clean cooking energy and biofertilizer for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and promotion of food security in Ugwogo Nike community within the first year period. The project ran for 3 months after initial delay due covid restrictions, it started in August 2020, and ended in November 2020. The project was designed by SI4DEV partner Adaobi U.

Project Objective: To provide training to women that are engaged in agriculture in Ugwogo Nike community on how to convert poultry waste to biogas for cooking and production of bioslurry as an organic fertilizer for farming for the reduction of greenhouse gases emission and food security.

PROJECT ASSESSMENT
Project design and objective were relevant because Biogas is a biotechnological device that without much stress converts organic waste into wealth to serve as raw material that can be used to provide energy and replace chemical fertilizer for sustainable development .Due to the unequal opportunities given to women in Ugwogo community to benefit from environmental projects, relegation to the background and high rate of restrictions which limits their access to resources, inadequate support needed for prosperous farming and community leadership. Findings of the project implementer baseline survey provided evidence shown high rate of marginalization of women rights and low decision making power both at the family and community levels which results to high rate of poverty as women are deprived of the opportunity to realize their potentials, lift themselves and their families out of poverty and improve agricultural production..

The project was effective as the Food Security and Agric business skills training of 20 women in Ugwogo Nike community on the construction of biogas recorded a huge success. The women were happy to learn how they can utilize their agricultural waste for generation of biogas for cooking and biourry to serve as organic fertilizer for farming. The trainees were highly impacted by the knowledge shared during the training program. They asked questions extensively during the training and expressed satisfaction on the novel information shared with them. A biogas plant was constructed in the practical training session to produce cooking gas and organic fertilizer for farming. The women clearly understood the processes involved in the construction of a biogas plant. They appreciated the technology, it is relevance and their ability to utilize agricultural waste(biomass) like poultry droppings, cow dung, kitchen waste and other forms of waste to ensure food security in the community. Resources were used efficiently, as items were bought at the cheapest price with high quality. The project is sustainable The Ugwogo project is a self-sustained venture as it will generate income through the sales of the biofertilizer.

Testimonial:
“This program really taught me a lot, i am going to start producing organic fertilizers by utilizing my agricultural waste. Thank you, Strategy and Innovation for Development Initiative,” ~ Amarachi U~

~I am a cassava farmer in ugwogo community in Enugu state, all this while, I have been throwing my agricultural waste product, the trainer taught us how to convert this waste to bio gas and organic fertilizers, I will start making money after this program. ~ Stella A~

The “Help A Poor Child Stay In School” was completed just before the covid-19 shutdowns in Nigeria with Funding support by TSDI. The Project report is by Omotayo O, an SI4DEV training program graduate in Farawa Community of Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State. 

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This project officially started with the Initiation Stage which entailed advocacy and awareness in the community and schools where the pupils are to be a beneficiary of the project. A visit was made by me and representatives of the partnering team to the head of ward and district of Farawa community, the divisional police officer and the principals of the two schools(Farawa Primary School and Zara Primary and Secondary school).

This was followed by sending Invitation Letters to some dignitaries with the interest of Education at heart. These include: the ministry of health, Kano, heads of ward and district of the community, the light house initiative, yali network Kano, revive Africa initiative Kano, SI4DEV teams in Nasarawa and Fagge LGA, as well as the police station for adequate security.

The Project was flagged off on Thursday 19th of March, 2020. The program started by 11:10am with the arrival of guests, prayer, welcoming address, speeches by Omotayo O, the SI4DEV partner coordinating the project, Farawa school principal and the Revive Africa Initiative coordinator.

This was immediately followed by the presentations of schooling kits (uniforms, socks, exercise books; 5 each, pencils, bags) and learning aids(big size mats;14, brooms & chalks; 6pkts) to the school management. There were 9 guests, 27 parents and 60 pupils in attendance with their teachers.

At Zara primary and secondary school, 120 exercise books were presented to 40 students (20 pupils from the primary & 20 students from secondary). Each student was given 3 books. 

Photographs were taken with the guests, parents & pupils with Volunteers at Farawa & Zara accordingly. A video clip of the event will be sent to the team at a later time.

I need to mention that partnering on this project was key, due to the peculiarity of the environment, religion, culture, tradition, and language. The Revive Africa Initiative coordinator; Mrs. Aisha I. did a lot in these aspects to get in touch with the orphaned and less privileged children in the community.

The SI4DEV members were represented by Mr. Nathaniel.

Attached are some of the pictures taken.

Once again, I am deeply grateful to TSDI, for this awesome opportunity to bring to realization my dream of impacting the lives of the less privileged around me as an advocate of SDGs 3 & 4.

Thanks

Best Regards,

Omotayo B. O.

Dear Supporter,

Hope this email meets you well and healthy in these difficult times.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, TSDI’s agship program was our aliate partnership with Strategy for Innovation and Development (SI4DEV), an NGO in Nigeria. TSDI worked with SI4DEV to design the SI4DEV Partners Training Program in 2017. The training program oers an informal certicate on community development to trainees who successful pass through WhatsApp classes and oine project-based learning.

Since 2018, alumni who have graduated from this 6-month program have led various projects, including educational handwashing outreach among other health campaigns, and now form the core of the 90-strong Collaborative Alunmi group.

As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in Nigeria, TSDI was one of the rst responders through a $5000 targeted donation to SI4DEV. While the government and larger private philanthropies were still mobilizing, SI4DEV launched their 5 million-naira ($14,000) COVID-19 community response fund two days after the president announced cross-country shutdowns on March 29.

The Fund has over the past 3 months supported awareness and prevention of COVID-19, with the following response and recovery activities for the most vulnerable populations:

1.  Accurate Information for community influencers: This is necessary to directly combat initial myths that poor people or Africans were immune to the virus, or that the virus cannot survive the hot weather in Nigeria. People were erroneously taught by religious leaders that “COVID-19 cannot get to believers” who are protected by God. 
2. Food and Hygiene Supplies: Most people at the grassroots level say they will only stay home as ordered by the government if they have a good stockpile of food. These are petty traders or self-employed artisans and farmers, who must go out to work daily and depend on their earned income for food and other needs. Most also cannot afford soap for handwashing.
3. Awareness on COVID-19 prevention strategies: In addition to knowing about the virus, people need to know suitable precautions to stop the spread of the coronavirus in Nigeria. Sensitization so far has been through social media, TV, radio and newspapers, but the audience of these news sources are mostly educated and high-income people. The average market woman or farmer cannot afford to buy these devices or may not have time to listen to them. Most of their information comes directly from influencers within the community.
4. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities: These are vital to limiting the spread of the COVID-19 infection but proper hygiene is not maintained in homes and communities with high poverty, because they cannot afford the extra expenses for soap and water. 
5. Personal Protection Equipment (PPE): When the prices of PPEs, soaps and sanitizers surged due to global demand, it made it difficult for local healthcare workers to make budgeted purchases and left medical staff at increased risk because of their close contact with people who may be infected. Health education workers could also not get the essential gloves and masks that will allow them to remain safe as they take the message to the communities.

In times like these, we really appreciate your financial and morale support. 

Stay safe.

Nkem