The Oyo State government has lauded the federal government’s National Social Investment Programme (N-SIP) saying, 209,123 pupils drawn from 2,448 public primary schools are currently benefiting from the homegrown feeding programme, under the N-SIP.
Speaking at an event organised for 66 trained personnel’s from Oyo State, in Ibadan, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Christiana Abioye, said the programme had ensured more equitable distribution of resources to vulnerable populations.
A statement by the ministry’s media officer, Temilola Akarah, said the 66 trained independent monitors, selected across the 33 local government areas for timely reports of the scheme, were also given engagement letters and tablets.
Mrs. Abioye said the programme had helped the vulnerable population to have improved and sustainable living conditions, with increase in the economic growth of the state.
Mrs Abioye who described the scheme as a right step in the right direction noted that the federal government’s Social Investment Programme is in line with the poverty alleviation programme of the Governor Seyi Makinde.
“This administration believes in quality education, good health and adequate security as well as thriving economy which are in tandem with the aims and objectives of the Federal Government NSIP,” she said.
She, however, appealed to the federal government to expand the social investment programme in view of the increasing population in the state.
The Minister, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, said the 66 youths had earlier been trained on the assignment.
Represented by the Assistant Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, in the ministry, Mrs Jumai Abdu-Ali, the minister added that a re-training on the application of the Social Investment Management Information System, SIMIS, became imperative for effective service delivery.
Hajia Farouk said the sum of N30,000 would be paid as stipend to the participants while the contract would last for one year.
The Minister who said 4,452 applicants were shortlisted out of 5,000 applicants nationwide, stressed the need for the participants to handle the task given them with diligence.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Disability Matters, Ayodele Adekanmbi, and the State Director, National Orientation Agency, Oyo State, Mrs Folake Ayoola, commended the efforts of the federal government and urged the independent monitors to carry out the assignment with the heart of sincerity and use the gadgets for the purpose they were meant for.
Also two of the participants, Mr. Olayinka Babarinde and Mrs. Jumoke Ismail, lauded the programme and appealed to the federal government to sustain the scheme, so as to enable them plan their future through the stipends that would be given to them.