A non-governmental organisation (NGO) African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ, in collaboration with the Bread for the World (Germany), New Initiative for Social Development (NISD), with support from the European Union (EU), Thursday, embarked on sensitisation outreach for the people of Akpa-Edem Community in Nsukka local government area of Enugu state on the need to participate in the ongoing social protection programmes in the state.
The outreach, held under the ActNaija Project, brought together community heads, youths, women, government officials and civil society organisations, with a theme: “Enhancing Community Access to Social Protection Programmes.” Blueprint reports
The aim of the awareness programme was to enlighten the rural people of Akpa-Edem on the need for them to participate in the ACTNaija Project and also become beneficiaries like other Nigerian community members that had keyed into the project for long.
Addressing the community members on the essence of the programme, the Executive Director, ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, pointed out that as a result of the economic hardship prevalent in the world, especially Nigeria, occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy, US, Israel and Iran war and activities of insurgencies, government came up with the social protection project to help alleviate the suffering of the vulnerable in the society.
“Nigeria is currently passing a very difficult economic period. The removal of fuel subsidy triggered significant increases in the cost of transportation, food, healthcare, education, electricity, and other essential goods and services,” he pointed out, noting that as a result, the social protection project was initiated by EU and other partners to help the vulnerable with cash consolation.
Represented by the Project Officer, Tracy Ugwu, Ugolor, stressed that since the social protection programmes were designed to alleviate poverty, protect vulnerable citizens against economic shocks, through the ACTNaija Project, ANEEJ and its partners are working to strengthen social protection systems by promoting transparency, citizen participation, and public awareness of available government interventions.
According to him, “these interventions include the National Social Register, the National Cash Transfer Programme, health insurance initiatives, livelihood support programmes, youth empowerment schemes, agricultural support initiatives, and other social welfare programmes aimed at improving the well-being of the vulnerable citizens.”
Encouraging the Akpa-Edem Community people to participate in the programme, he noted that many government and corporate interventions exist but many eligible citizens are not aware, hence the sensitisation visit.
Speaking at the occasion, the state programme officer, Matthew Megwai, said ACTNaija was a rare opportunity ANEEJ is offering to the citizens through the sponsorship of EU and other partners and urged the Akpa-Edem people to register in the National Register in order to stand the chance of benefiting from the Cash Transfer programme.
Megwai said that the programme is encouraging beneficiaries to better their lives by utilising the cash they would be getting from the project.
“The Federal Government is giving out the money but you cannot get it unless you register. We are here to encourage you to participate in the programme,” he said, adding, “the EU is supporting us. The Project is taking place in other parts of Nigeria,” he urged.
The State Protection Focal Person of the Enugu State Economic Planning Commission, Henrietta Nzekwe, told them that they were lucky to be part of the sensitisation programme and urged them to put the money they would be paid to proper use to enhance their economic status.
The state Coordinator of the State Operations Coordinating Unit, SOCU Coordinating, Barr. Joy Blossom Eneh, represented by Mrs. Martina Ajibo, said that their duty is to generate data with which those that will benefit from the project would be paid. She pointed out that anybody that was not captured by the Unit cannot participate in the programme, hence the need for them to make themselves available for capturing. “Any day our people come to you for capturing, allow them to capture you,” she urged.
On his part, the state Programme Manager of the Cash Transfer Office, Sunday Ogbuanya, represented by Lady Enedoh Uzoma, encouraged the participants to make sure that they register in the National Register for them to qualify for the project.
Ogbuanya urged them that apart from registering for the programme, they have to obtain their National Identification Number, NIN for them to be eligible for the programme.
The community leaders present at the occasion, the President General, PG, Thomas Omeje; Royal Regent, Akpa-Edem, Prince Alex Ike Eze, as well as Prof. Paulinus Ugwoke, urged their people to be part of the programme by making themselves available for capturing, and expressed joy that their community was fortunate to be chosen.