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Nuru Nigeria Unveils SUSTAIN, Equipping 9,000 in Northeast Nigeria for Post-Conflict Recovery and Climate Resilience

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 19, 2025

Contact: Simon | info@nurunigeria.org

MAIDUGURI– Nuru Nigeria, in partnership with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU), and in close co-implementation with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, officially launched the Strengthening Underserved communities through Sustainable and Transformative Agribusiness Innovations in Northeast Nigeria (SUSTAIN) Project on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. The ceremonial launch took place at the Conference Hall, Grand Pinnacle Hotel in Maiduguri, bringing together critical stakeholders from various ministries and traditional rulers.

group of people from ANI, Nuru Nigeria, and GIZ stand together in a group, smiling at the camera

Nuru Nigeria staff stand with representatives from partners, GIZ and African Nature Investors.

The SUSTAIN Project, which launched in June 2025, is set to conclude in November 2026 and will serve a total of 9,000 individuals, including 2,000 farmers, across Biu and Kwaya Kusar Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Borno State and Toungo LGA of Adamawa State. This initiative is a core component of GIZ Nigeria’s broader Sustainable Social Protection and Participation Project (SEPIN SUSI). 

The project is designed to address critical challenges such as weak agricultural systems, economic exclusion of women and youth, and fractured community structures that have resulted from conflicts and climate shocks in the region. By equipping vulnerable communities with resources, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and host communities, the SUSTAIN Project aims to foster lasting resilience.

Key objectives of the SUSTAIN Project include:

  • Enhancing agricultural productivity and food security through various innovations and sustainable agricultural practices, with an emphasis on climate-smart initiatives.
  • Creating cooperative agribusinesses and increasing access to safe, secure, and affordable financial services, particularly for those in fragile rural communities without commercial bank presence.
  • Promoting climate-smart agriculture and ensuring youth involvement in green jobs, like solar exploration, compost formulation, and organic farming.
  • Strengthening community resilience and social cohesion by facilitating group-based approaches and fostering collaboration among farmers.
  • Promoting gender equity and social inclusion by addressing patriarchal dynamics and social norms that cause gender inequality, with special attention to vulnerable groups, women’s resource rights, and representation.
  • Conserving natural resources and biodiversity, especially in areas bordering national parks, through activities like tree planting campaigns, promoting alternative livelihoods, and distributing energy-efficient stoves.

Amy Gaman, Managing Director of Nuru Nigeria, emphasized the project’s significance, stating, “The SUSTAIN Nigeria Project is a continuation of our work as Nuru Nigeria and the renewal of our commitment to build a resilience corridor in northeast Nigeria.” She added that the launch marks “a significant milestone in Nigeria’s post-conflict recovery and climate resilience efforts, reinforcing Nuru Nigeria’s commitment to sustainable development and inclusive growth”. Gaman further highlighted that the project addresses critical challenges through climate-smart agriculture, regenerative practices, financial inclusion, and gender-responsive governance.

woman stands behind podium presenting

Nuru Nigeria Managing Director Amy Gaman presents at SUSTAIN launch event

Nuru Nigeria’s approach is deeply rooted in community-led, community-owned, and community-sustained development, believing that communities hold the solutions to their own problems. This project builds on Nuru Nigeria’s successful model, which has impacted over 37,000 people in northern Adamawa State through 20 thriving agribusinesses with a 70% women’s participation rate.

man stands behind podium presenting

Nuru NIgeria Leadership & Partnership Director Simon Eli presents at SUSTAIN launch event

Goni Modu, GIZ Borno State Field Coordinator, noted GIZ’s long-standing presence in Borno since 2016, implementing humanitarian projects in phases. He urged all stakeholders, including the Borno and Adamawa State Governments, to actively participate in the SUSTAIN Project for economic growth and development.

 

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About Nuru Nigeria:

Nuru Nigeria is a local nonprofit organization that works to build a resilience corridor across northeastern Nigeria through a holistic nutrition-sensitive agribusiness approach, to end extreme poverty. Nuru Nigeria focuses on establishing self-sustainable farmer organizations, increasing access to financial services and literacy, and strengthening community-led development initiatives. Visit www.nurunigeria.org to learn more.

 

About GIZ:

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federal enterprise with worldwide operations. It supports the German Government in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. It is also engaged in education activities around the globe. GIZ assists people and societies in shaping their own future and improving their living conditions.

 

About SEPIN SUSI: 

GIZ is implementing the Supporting Sustainable Social Protection, Participation and Economic Resilience in Northeast Nigeria (SEPIN SUSI) programme, which aims to enhance the social protection and economic participation of the vulnerable population in some Local Government Areas of Adamawa and Borno States, Nigeria in a gender-responsive manner.

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