Accra: Mr. Felix Alonge, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Social Investment Programme to the Ondo State Governor, has announced that 22,124 vulnerable persons have benefited from the Federal Government’s Social Investment Programmes (SIP) from 2024 to date in the state. This announcement was made during a stakeholders engagement meeting held in Akure, organized by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction in collaboration with the National Social Investment Programme Agency.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the meeting also involved the National Cash Transfer Office and the Ondo State Cash Transfer Unit. Stakeholders from ministries, agencies, development partners, civil society, and traditional institutions participated in the meeting. Mr. Alonge highlighted that 8,434 people benefited from the programme in 2021, and emphasized the transition to a digital payment approach instead of raw cash disbursement.
Mr. Alonge noted that both Federal and State Governments aim to positively impact the lives of vulnerable citizens through various intervention programmes initiated under President Bola Tinubu. The Ondo State cash transfer unit, under the National Social Safety-nets project, has convened key stakeholders and opinion leaders to discuss these initiatives.
Earlier in the meeting, Mrs. Yemi Pirisola, Permanent Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Relations, mentioned that the Household Prosperity and Empowerment (HOPE) programme has supported approximately 15 million vulnerable households nationwide. She urged stakeholders to support government efforts aimed at protecting at-risk groups, including widows, the chronically ill, unemployed, poor, and vulnerable individuals.
Mr. Opeyemi Adeloye, State Programme Manager of the Ondo State Cash Transfer Unit, reiterated that the government intervention programmes are designed to save lives, protect the poor and vulnerable, and sustain business growth. Additionally, the Chairman of Akure South Local Government, Gbenga Fasua, acknowledged that numerous vulnerable lives have been saved through the various SIP initiatives of the Federal and State governments.
Mr. Laolu Akindolire, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for its support under the Renewed Hope Agenda initiated by the president.