UNICEF, Abia Govt, Others Partner On Vulnerable Families

Abia State authorities has launched the European Union (EU)-funded project, Supporting Sustainable Social Protection Systems successful Nigeria (SUSI), successful collaboration with UNICEF, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and different partners.

Despite its importance, societal extortion sum successful Nigeria remains limited. “According to the International Labour Organisation 2024 World Social Protection report, lone 14.8 per cent of Nigerians presently person entree to effectual societal protection. To adjacent this gap, the project, which is besides being implemented successful Benue, Oyo, and Sokoto states, is designed to fortify inclusive, shock-responsive, and sustainable societal extortion systems. It aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Eight-Point Agenda, aiming to trim poverty, support the astir vulnerable, and beforehand resilient livelihoods”.

Speaking astatine the event, the politician of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, reaffirmed the state’s commitment: “I americium besides gladsome that the EU, ILO and UNICEF volition beryllium partnering with the State Government towards the palmy transportation of the SUSI Project. We are encouraged to deliberation of our children and the satellite we privation to bequeath to them. Individually and collectively, we are called to retrieve that each determination counts, that we bash not ain anything, but are simply custodians who would 1 time beryllium required to look back, either successful regret oregon fulfilment.”

In his comment, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, stressed the value of the EU’s support. “Social extortion is cardinal to gathering equitable societies. This concern demonstrates our continued committedness to improving the lives of Nigerians, peculiarly successful states similar Abia, by strengthening systems that tin supply enactment erstwhile it is needed most.”

Wafaa Saeed, UNICEF Representative successful Nigeria, highlighted the transformative interaction of inclusive systems. He said, “Social extortion is not conscionable a information net, it is simply a springboard for inclusive development. Through this project, we purpose to guarantee that each kid and family, peculiarly the astir vulnerable, is protected from the shocks that tin derail their well-being and opportunities for a amended future.”

Contributing, Vanessa Phala, Director of the ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone and Liaison Office for ECOWAS highlighted the value of semipermanent sustainability: “A well-designed and inclusive societal extortion strategy is cardinal to decent work, economical stability, and societal cohesion. With this project, we are moving unneurotic to guarantee that societal extortion becomes a world for much Nigerians.”

“The implementation of the SUSI task volition enactment the improvement of societal extortion policy, enlargement of the societal register, capableness building, strengthening the database strategy and making it interoperable with different related databases, and ensuring that societal extortion programmes are good budgeted for, astatine some the national and authorities levels.