Oyo Government Moves To Empower Four Million Residents

Oyo State Government has launched a new initiative focused on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) geared towards empowering four million vulnerable persons in the state.

The programme tagged “Oyo State Poverty Alleviation Grants (O’PAG), was unveiled at the State Government House, Agodi, Ibadan.

Addressing the beneficiaries,the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Toyin Balogun, stated that the empowerment programme was an extension of the social Protection and safety Nets interventions of the Governor Seyi Makinde led government through Cash grants targeted towards the vulnerable populations in the state.

According to her, some residents of the state indicated their pressing needs through the office of the Commissioner Women Affairs and Social Inclusion noting that 500 Persons would benefit from the first batch of the nitiative.

Mrs Balogun disclosed that in the months ahead, Oyo state government through the ministry of Women Affairs would be coming up with various programs and interventions involving vocational training and skills acquisition programmes to effectively and sustainably empower women and all other vulnerable demographics in the state.

“Recognising the importance of inclusivity which is part of the core mandates of the Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Inclusion,the government of Governor Seyi Makinde will through our Ministry continue to ensure that the broad spectrum of the indigent in our society including Women, Women with Multiple Live Births,
Children, the Elderly and People with Disabilities (PWDs) are supported to transit from Poverty to Self Sustenance and then on to Prosperity

“Consequently ,today we will observe that all these different demographics form an integral part of the beneficiaries of today’s Social Safety Net Intervention by the Governor Seyi Makinde led Administration through this Ministry.

“This intervention is targeted specifically towards those who requested for financial assistance from the office of the Commissioner for Women Affairs is in line with the Ministry’s target to lift a minimum of 4 million indigent family units from Poverty to Self Sustenance and Prosperity through various interventions within the timeline of the Governor Seyi Makinde led government in line with the Omituntun 2:0 Agenda of His Excellency

“Financial assistance programs, grants, microloans, and other forms of support transcend beyond providing money—they are about providing the necessary tools, knowledge, and confidence the vulnerable among us, women inclusive, need to break away from cycles of poverty and dependency.

The vice chairman, National Union of Journalist (NUJ), Oyo State Council, Seye Ojo lamented the level of poverty in Nigeria despite its abundance of human and material resources.

He lauded governor Seyi Makinde for being a friend of the press for his supports and friendliness with media practitioners in the state adding that the grant would go a long way to provide succour for beneficiaries.

Some of the beneficiaries who started receiving bank credit alert of funds ranging between 50,000 naira and 150,000 naira, lauded Governor Makinde led government for his inclusive governance built on people-centered policies and programs.