The Delta State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Community Support Services and Girl-Child Development, Ms. Orode Uduaghan has disclosed that social intervention mechanism is crucial for poverty eradication in the State.
She made this known today in Asaba the state capital during a workshop on National Social Safety Net Programme Scale Up (NASSP_SU) titled: “Stakeholder’s Engagement Meeting on National Social Safety Net Programme (NASSP_SU) Implementation.
Ms. Uduaghan posited that the fight against poverty will not be won in isolation hence a concerted collaboration from the three tiers of government.
“In Delta State, we recognize that the fight against poverty will not be won in isolation. It takes partnership between the federal government, the State government and the local government and, in fact, our partners and our communities,” she affirmed.
She further postulated that the crucial role of financial inclusion in poverty eradication makes the workshop more significant and timelier.
According to the Commissioner, the seminar provides the stakeholders an engaging platform to learn new ideas on how to align and deliver the National Social Safety Net Programme to the vulnerable population across the 25 local governments of the state; particularly the new scale up module devoid of rancour and disenfranchisement.
Ms. Uduaghan commended the state governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for his support of the scheme which has benefited over thirty-two thousand (32,000) vulnerable Deltans through the cash transfer programme implemented by Delta State Cash Transfer Unit (STU) and State Operations Coordinating Unit (SOCU).
She stated further that feedback have been encouraging due to the livelihood support it offers to these vulnerable households across the country.
The state focal person charged the stakeholders to cascade the objectives of the programme in their various communities.
In his remarks, the chairman state steering committee and the Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Sonny Ekedayen stated that the interactive workshop could not have come at a better time.
He highlighted the cause of increase in the number of Nigerians who are sliding deeper into the poverty bracket to economic activities, adverse economic policies as well as the monster called insecurity.
The Economist further submitted that every problem has a solution and as a result, the state government is poised to tackle them head-on.
The Commissioner also disclosed that apart from cash transfer to vulnerable individuals, the government in the State has been supportive of small holder farmers by providing them with farm implements for the sake of economic independence and stability within their localities.
Another speaker at the workshop, the commissioner for Secondary education Mrs. Rose Ezewu, said that by scaling up the National Social Safety Net Programme will not only address poverty but also investing in education, health and the future of our people.
