As part of activities to mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR), ELIM Christian Vocational Training Centre has stressed the need for improved sanitation practices.

The centre noted the importance of proper sanitation practices and effective drainage systems in preventing erosion.

It stated this during an awareness campaign in Benue State where it organised a road walk, featuring Community Disaster Reduction Committee (CDRC) members, including individuals with disabilities, who walked around the council’s headquarters in Tse-Agberagba.

The Project Coordinator, Rachel Achimba, said the aim of the exercise was to create awareness in enabling resilience to climate change-related risks through local civil society organisations in the state.

Achimba, represented by the community organiser of Elim Vocational Training Centre in Konshisha LGA, Samuel Nyikyaa, maintained that the campaign would help to educate various communities on the dangers associated with flooding, erosion, bush burning and deforestation amongst other climate change-related disasters.

She noted that the three-year project, funded by the European Union and Christian Blind Mission (CBM), which operates in Benue State’s Konshisha and Gwer West LGAs, has achieved milestones in economic tree planting, farmer training, dry season farming introduction and community group formation.

The project coordinator added that the initiative aligned with the global focus on empowering the next generation for a resilient future, as emphasised by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).

Speaking, the District Head of Mbagben, Chief Terfa Diogo; the Tse-Agberagba Tor Geri, Zaki Alfred Terna; and youth leader, Terry Aernyi, who joined the walk commended Elim for the initiative and urged the non-governmental organisation to sustain the good work.

“I guarantee you security in my domain. Feel free to operate in the Konshisha local government,” Chief Diogo said.