It was moment of jubilation for the people of Ga’ate and Gida Auta of Nasarawa State during the weekend as the communities were for the first time connected to a national grid through the Nigerian Farmers Group and Cooperative Society (NFGCS) and NFGCS Farms LTD rural electrification project meant to power the group’s farm settlements in Ga’ate.
The development came three years after NFGCS’s successful operation in the community.
Making the announcement during the weekend, the National Coordinator of NFGCS Retson Tedheke, who also doubles as head, NFGCS Farms LTD, told LEADERSHIP that the power project, which currently “covers two major communities (Ga’ate and Gida Auta) will service about 2000 families with a plan expansion work targeted to cover ten more communities, including some Fulani settlements within the NFGCS’s farm settlements.
He explained that neither government nor banks contributed to the project. “This is a project funded and wholly owned by NFGCS FARMS LIMITED and Nigeria Farmers Group and Cooperative Society” Retson announced.
Speaking with LEADERSHIP in an exclusive chat, the traditional head of Ga’ate community, Sarkin Ibrahim Labaran said the rural electrification project came to him and the community as a surprise, given the cost of the project.
He expressed confidence that “NFGCS’s developmental strides in the community would endear the relationship between the community and the group”
“NFGCS has put a smile on our faces and we are grateful for all the developments they have brought to the community, including engaging our youths and women who were before now jobless”.
“Ga’ate which was not known in the past has in the past few years become Mecca for senior government functionaries and other highly placed people”.
“This is not about this generation but generation after who will still benefit from the project and so we are grateful to NFGCS, he told LEADERSHIP.
He said the news of the electrification project has gone viral that he has been receiving calls from various communities and traditional leaders praying for and congratulating him for the project. “This gives me joy, pride and honour”, he said praying that he will do everything within his power to promote the group and its investment.
Community Youth Leader and NFGCS’s Land Officer, Adamu Baba Ga’ate, commended the group for what he described as gesture that could not be repaid.
“Honestly if someone told me this day would come this easy some years back, I would have taken it with a pinch of salt”.
“Let me on behalf of my community thank Mr Retson and his Groups for what they have been doing for our communities since the came here in 2017. They have restored confidence in a lot of our youths and made them believe that there is dignity in labour, said Adamu.
“While we can’t thank them enough for what they have done for us in the past, this light project will open new vistas for business opportunities for our youths and women, he added.
