Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has called on Kogi State Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (KGYESSO) to ensure that all communities in the state are captured in the single register of poor and vulnerable persons in Nigeria.
Governor Bello made the call when the state government received a delegation from the Democratic Republic of Congo who are in the state to understudy the activities of Kogi YESSO.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Mrs Folashade Ayoade Arike, Governor Bello said his administration places emphasis on poverty reduction as a collective desire towards achieving good governance.
The governor stated that his administration’s emphasis on skills acquisition is to help reduce rural-urban migration.
He commended Kogi YESSO for its trail-blazing efforts but tasked the body to grow beyond the 160 communities and 48,727 persons captured so far in the Single Register by ensuring that all communities in the state are captured.
The governor appealed to well meaning individuals, organization, and other stakeholders to take the advantage of the state single register to help the poor and the vulnerable.
The governor promised the release of the state counterpart funds required to enable more persons benefit from the social safety net program of the federal government.
In a remarks at the visit, the Minister for Social Inclusion and team leader of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Prof. Mughahaba John noted that issues of poverty calls for a collaborative efforts, adding that the delegation was in the state to learn from her success story.
Prof. Mughahaba said the eighty million population in DRC would not be safe despite the presence of some few rich persons if the vast majority are not catered for. He explained that the team is in Nigeria to learn and gather knowledge on the Kogi state success story in the fight against poverty.
The DRC team lead said the visit has enabled the delegation have an understanding of the participatory, bottom-top approach in the fight against poverty, as well as ensuring that the views of those affected is made key in the fight against poverty.
In his speech, Iorwa Apera, National Coordinator NASSCO, office of the Vice President, said through a coordinated safety net approach, the federal government has been able to build a single register. He described the visit to Kogi state as significant one having set the pace by building an acceptable single register for the poor and vulnerable.
He pointed out that the federal government is proud of Kogi state YESSO.
Speaking also at the visit, Hajia Hajara Sani, National Coordinator YESSO, office of the Vice President, described Kogi State YESSO as a celebration of hard work.
The National Coordinator said the state is amongst the fifteen States currently enjoying the World Bank Support, solicited the support of the government in sustainability of the success story, commended the state for capturing 22,000 households, and 116,000 individuals thus far in it single register as commendable.
In a remarks at the occasion, the Kogi state commissioner for finance and economic planning, Hon. Idris Asiru, attributed the YESSO success story in the state to the fiscal disciplines of the administration of governor Yahaya Bello.
The Commissioner described the reforms of the present administration as one that has enabled financial discipline that guarantees safe investment. He pointed out that through transparency, accountability and an efficiency unit domiciled in the State Ministry of Finance the state has been able to set the pace.
In a welcome remarks, the Special Adviser and Focal Person for Social Investment program in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Adoga, said the state government under Gov. Yahaya Bello, has given attention to pro poor program because of its ability to check social vices.
Hon. Adoga said 15,000 young graduates are presently benefiting from the federal government N-power program, with 7,000 market women, artisans benefiting from the GEEP program, with another 20,000 beneficiaries captured under the conditional cash transfer, while 3000 cooks he added have already been engaged for the home grown feeding program.
The State Coordinator YESSO, Dr Noah Alilu, described the Kogi success story as a call for more work, commended the efforts of Gov. Yahaya Bello in ensuring that the objectives of the poverty alleviation program is realized.
