By Bishop Aturu
Noah Alilu, who presently is the Kogi State Coordinator of the Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO) has bagged the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Quantitative Economics (Econometrics option) from the Department of Economics, Faculty of the Social Science, University of Nigeria Nsukka- Enugu State.
Mr. Alilu was pronounced worthy and competent for the award after a robust oral viva defence of his voluminous thesis titled “Productivity Growth Convergence and Factors Efficiency in Sub-Saharan African Economies”. By this achievement, he has joined the league of egg-heads, albeit academicians.
Mr. Alilu also holds a Master Degree in Econometrics. He bagged his Masters degree from the same university in 2007. Before his Master’s degree, he had B.Sc (Hons) in Economics and N.C.E in Economics and Social Studies from the Kogi State University Anyigba and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 2003 and 1993 respectively.
The highly resourceful Dr. Alilu, was born on 5th of April, 1975. He is a native of Odu Ajiyolo-Akabe in Dekina Local Government. He is a Budget and procurement specialist. He worked with Ministry of Budget and Planning as a Budget Officer before he was deployed to the defunct Public Sector Governance Reforms and Development Project (PSGRDP) as a procurement specialist, after which he was appointed as the YESSO Coordinator.
He is a thorough breed economist of our time, a pride to Kogi State and the civil service in particular. It must be noted that, he is one of the best YESSO coordinator in Nigeria, based on the World Bank report on Kogi State performance in the YESSO implementation. The World Bank Task Team leader, Professor Foluso Okunmadewa disclosed this in Lokoja recently while commenting on the activities of YESSO in the state.
Across the 15 YESSO implanting states in Nigeria, Kogi State is leading with over 48,000 Households and over 248,876 individuals across the 21 LGAs of Kogi state captured in the Single Register (SR) domiciled at the Office of the Vice-President for various social protection implementation. The federal government conditional cash transfer is using the Kogi State YESSO SR for beneficiaries in the 21 LGAs of the state.
Also, over 4,000 youths have been engaged using the SR for the Public Workfare programme after the payment of 10% stipends GCCC state contribution by Kogi State government. The skills for job (S4J) components of YESSO is ALSO set to engage over 5,000 youths for vocational training in collaboration with KOICA, NDE and State government. Arrangement is been finalized towards this direction soon to involve the 21 LGAs.
For the youthful, humble and amiable Dr. Alilu, this is another feather, a golden one for that matter added to his cap. Speaking on his recent attainment, he told The Graphic that: “I owe it all to God, who is the repository of knowledge.”
He added: “Success does not come from the north or west; east or south, it comes from God and it is not of him that wills or runs but of God that shows mercy. To him, therefore, I return all glory, honour and adoration.”
A new chapter has been opened in the life of the young Dr. Alilu, who says he would continue to deliver on his mandate at YESSO with even greater zeal, commitment and focus. “That we are rated one of the best, is not enough for us to go to sleep. What this means is call for greater hard work”, he says.
While appreciating the support of the state government under Alhaji Yahaya Bello to the programme in the state, Dr. Alilu remarked that, “we owe our modest achievements to the support of the Governor.”
