By Yetunde Oke
The Oyo state government in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF and International Labour Organisation, ILO has launched the Supporting Sustainable Social Protection System Project in the state, funded by the European Union, EU.
UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Mr Saeed Wafaa, made this known at the official launch in Ibadan, held at the state secretariat.
According to Mr Wafaa, represented by UNICEF Chief of Lagos Office Field, for Southwest, Ms Celine Lafoucriere, the project aims to transform the lives of the most vulnerable in communities.
He said the project will capture access to education, health and food through social protection systems.
Mr Wafaa, commended the Oyo State government for the steps it has taken so far through social protection policy, creation of social protection coordination department, the drafted bill for social protection awaiting legislative action and ongoing social protection initiative such as free basic education and health insurance scheme.
Also in an interview at a selected community at Dasofunjo area of Odo-Oba, Ibadan, the Programme Social Policy Manager, UNICEF Lagos-field office, Mr Muhammad Okorie, noted that the community was traced and captured through community identification and poverty mapping in meeting their needs.
Mr Okorie added that by 2026, UNICEF and ILO hope to register an additional 250,000 poor households into the National Social Register through an update via National Identity Number, NIN and account numbers.
