Heritage News Reports..
IYIN EKITI
The State Programme Officer of the New Initiative for Social Development (NISD) under the ACT NAIJA Project, Miss Rachel Olori, on Thursday said the project was strengthening access to social protection programmes across communities through sustained awareness and grassroots engagement.
Miss Olori stated this during a community outreach organised by the Act, Project (Civil Society Action to Strengthen Social Protection in Nigeria) at Oluyin Civil Hall, Palace, Iyin Ekiti, under the theme “Empowering Communities through Awareness.”
She explained that the outreach targeted residents of the Iyin Local Government Area, including people with disabilities, to educate them on the social register and social safety net programmes available in Ekiti State and across Nigeria, She said.
According to her, the programme also created an opportunity to gather feedback from beneficiaries while engaging community members on eligibility, participation, and access to government interventions.
Speaking with newsmen, Miss Olori said representatives from relevant state ministries were present to explain their programmes, answer questions, and guide residents on how to benefit from existing social protection initiatives.
She added that the outreach had helped address information gaps at the grassroots level, noting that many residents were unaware of government initiatives, particularly agricultural programmes, before the sensitisation exercise.
Miss Olori said improved awareness would increase participation in social protection schemes and enable beneficiaries to share information with family members and other community residents, thereby expanding the reach of the programmes nationwide.
The outreach was attended by His Royal Highness, the Oba Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, alongside palace representatives, including Chief Osolo Tunde Akinwumi and Chief Aro Obafemi. Officials from the Ministries of Agriculture, Health, and Budget were also present.
Chief Osolo Tunde Akinwumi described the programme as educative, saying sustained government support would encourage agricultural activities and improve food security through increased cultivation of staple crops.
Health and agricultural officials also highlighted programme benefits. Mrs. Tolulope Adewenimo of the Ekiti State Ministry of Health and Human Services said health insurance and federal basic healthcare schemes ensured equitable access to services, while Mrs. Ibrahim Ajolola of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security said youth-focused agricultural initiatives empowered participants through training and income generation.
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