A non-governmental organisation, Diamond Development Initiatives, yesterday said it had assisted over 600,000 farmers groups and cooperatives since 2002.
The organisation said it executed over 8,000 off-grid energy connections to rural households.
Executive Director of DDI, Malam Adamu Garba, who spoke at the organisation’s 20th anniversary, said the projects were in 29 states.
“DDI assisted over 600,000 farmers groups and cooperatives, over 8,000 off-grid energy connections to rural households and 2,000 connections to businesses…
“We have been working with 60 off-grid energy entrepreneurs to provide energy solutions to households. So we have executed the projects in 29 out of the 36 states of Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“We work in partnership with the government where possible, especially where our objectives are same, in order to reduce poverty in different areas.
“Our focus in the poverty reduction effort is in the three areas of agriculture, off-grid energy and youth entrepreneurship.”
Board Chairman, DDi, Dr. Lydia Umar, said as a not-for-profit organisation, Diamond Development Initiatives was established in 2002 with a mission to build a society that provided equitable opportunity for self-actualisation through economic empowerment and sustainable livelihood initiatives.
She said: “AS a development service provider, we complement development agencies, donors, and funding organisations by providing technical support in designing, planning and implementing various development initiatives across several sectors targeting unserved and underserved
populations at the grassroots.
“We operate with a program philosophy that is rooted in the tested ideals of a participatory, bottom-top approach, where all participating parties are actively involved throughout the development process.
“We work in several sectors including Agriculture and Livelihoods, Off-Grid/Renewable Energy, Entrepreneurship Development, Youth Employability Enhancement, and Grants Management.