Residents of Auyo community in Jigawa have called for continuity of viable community projects to fast track sustainable development in the state.

They stated this at the inauguration of the maiden community engagement initiative, on Sunday in Auyo, headquarters Auyo Local Government Area of the state.

Abdullahi Auyo, a resident, said the community engagement exercise would bring the government closer to the people and provide a platform for feedback.

He said the initiative also availed the government opportunities to carry people along to ensure successful implementation of its policies and programmes.

A farmer, Umar Adali, commended the state governor, Umar Namadi over his agriculture transformation programme in the state.

He said that many farmers in the area benefited from farm skills and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training programmes.

An Islamic cleric, Muftahu Abdukarim, said the community engagement exercise could be dated back to Islamic history, when Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) and his companions engaged members of the communities in the decision making process.

He enjoined the people to take advantage of the initiative and make valuable contributions for the betterment of all.

Aliya Usman, a female politician, called for more inclusion of women in agricultural and other empowerment projects.

She lamented that many women in the area did not benefit from empowerment programmes being implemented by the successive administrations in the state.

Mr Namadi’s administration initiated the community engagement exercise as part of strategies to promote accountability and transparency in governance.

The event was attended by the minister of defence, Badaru Abubakar, government officials, members of the national and state assemblies.

(NAN)