Njawara Agricultural Training Centre (NATC) in collaboration with the Methodist Mission Agricultural Project (MMAP) recently, organised a one-day sensitisation forum at Njawara Village in the North Bank Region (NBR).

The event which is part of the Excel project, and sponsored by Concern Universal, brought together NGOs, Community Based Organisations (CBOs)    and government institutions, across the region.

Delivering the opening remarks on behalf of the Governor of NBR, Dankunku Dampha, the IEC regional electoral officer in Kerewan, described the occasion as important, adding that the forum will provide unique opportunities to create both mutual understanding and to forster relationship between various institutions operating in the region.

According to him, government has created the conducive environment for NGOs' operation in the country, noting that their contribution towards the socio-economic development of the country cannot be over emphasized.

He called on the NGOs, CBOs and other institutions in the region to collaborate and work together to improve capacity building and awareness campaign on key issues about government's development objectives. He hailed the NATC for their efforts in the development process and also thanked Concern Universal for building the capacities of NGOs in the region.

For his part, Badara Jobe, NATC director, gave an overview of the centre's strategic development goals and objectives, noting that, their aim is to contribute to the country's drive towards the attainment of food self sufficiency and poverty reduction by creating self-reliance and empowerment opportunities for women and youths, inorder to enhance livelihood in the farming communities of the region.

According to him, key operational area's been under taken by the centre includes networking with partners.

He highlighted capacity building, agro-forestry and natural resource management, enterprise development, income generation and gender awareness, as some of the key areas that the centre is focusing on from 2005 to date.

He urged the farmers to take good care of their animals.

Speaking earlier, Tamba Kinteh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kerewan Area Council who also doubles as a board member of NATC, in his remarks, thanked the participants for honouring their invitations.  He encouraged stakeholders to join hands with his council and work towards the development of the region.

Lamin Dibba, director of NGO Affairs, commended NATC for organising such a forum and emphasised the need for NGOs to work together.

Other speakers include Sheriff Gomez of Gamjobs, Mam Biram of ADWAC, Haruna Kuyateh of World View International, Yaya Sanyang, Foday Kanyi of MMAP, among others.

Certificates were awarded to outstanding farmers and the occasion was attended by residents of Njawara and the surrounding villages.