Oyo State Government and the United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF) on Thursday, agreed to tackle poverty through cash transfers to the vulnerable and the extremely poor in the society.
The Commissioner for Economic and Budget Planning, Prof. Musbau Adetunji Babatunde said the Social Protection Policy programme would alleviate extreme poverty and enhance sustainable economic growth in Oyo State.
He said the critical role social protection plays in combating poverty and supporting the vulnerable necessitated the validation of Oyo State Social Protection Policy.
Babatunde said this after a 2-day Validation of Oyo State Social Protection Policy organized by the Oyo State Ministry of Economic and Budget Planning in collaboration with UNICEF held in Ibadan.
Prof. Musbau Adetunji Babatunde said, one of the cardinal points of Governor Seyi Makinde’s led administration was to tackle poverty and to make life better for residents of Oyo State.
The Commissioner said, “social protection is a set of interventions whose objective is to reduce social and economic risk and vulnerability, and alleviate extreme poverty and deprivation hence the preparation of draft policy to make life meaningful for the vulnerable among the citizenry”.
“This programme is designed to eliminate poverty and vulnerability by promoting efficient labour markets, diminishing people‘s exposure to risks, and enhancing their capacity to manage economic and social risks such as unemployment, exclusion, sickness, child rights, people living with disability and old age.”
He stressed further that, “Social Protection Policy programmes will alleviate extreme poverty and enhance sustainable economic growth, through cash transfer for the vulnerable and the extremely poor, home-grown school feeding programme, job creation & youth empowerment, financial inclusion & other empowerment interventions programmes and projects.”
On behalf of the Oyo State Government, he admonished members of the committee to reflect the essence of inter-agency collaboration required in tackling problems associated with poverty and vulnerability in the State.
Earlier in his opening remark, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Economic and Budget Planning, Ademola Ajibola commended the present administration in Oyo State for partnering with Development Agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and other notable private organizations in the task of making lives more meaningful and comfortable for the citizenry.
Represented by Mr. Ademola Adediran, he thanked UNICEF for supporting the State, adding that the support would be sustained to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the policy in the State.
Meanwhile, a representative of UNICEF in Oyo State, Mrs. Hope Oduma has commended Engr. Seyi Makinde’s administration for its willingness and commitment to ensure the realisation of the social protection policy.
She added that UNICEF was proud to collaborate with the Oyo State government, in realizing the goals of solving poverty and vulnerability issues.
The event was witnessed by top government functionaries including, the Oyo State Statistician-General, Mr. Teslim Adejuwon, SSA on Budget, Kehinde Ogunsaya, SA Legal to the Governor, Ms. Ifedolapo Ologuro among others.
Oluwakayode Banjo
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