By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
In a bid to further create meaningful livelihoods for its citizenry, the Kwara State Government has assured all residents of continued succour through its social investment programmes, adding that plans are afoot to extend its safety net to accommodate and financially support more households and communities across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state through the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP).
The General Manager, KWASSIP, Dr. Abdulwasiu Olayinka Tejidini, gave this assurance in Ilorin at the Inter-Ministerial Press Briefing organised by the Kwara State Ministry of Communications.
Dr Tejidini explained that social investment programme is an integral part of any positive-minded government, being one of the avenues that can be used in alleviating poverty and social inequality in the state and the country at large, stressing that social investment provides the citizens a level playing field where those at the bottom of the economic ladder can be provided with palliatives to enhance their purchasing power and financial independence.
The General Manager added that KWASSIP has reached out to no fewer than 20,000 individuals engaged in skilled and unskilled labour across the state to boost their productivity and stability with the sum of ₦20,000 each.
Similarly, he noted that petty traders drawn from different communities across the LGAs were also given the sum of ₦20,000 each from the financial intervention programme designed to support and promote local economic activities in the State.
Dr Tejidini explained that the ongoing Household Support Programme that was rolled out in the first quarter of the year is a Financial Assistance Scheme targeted at uplifting low income families to boost their financial situation so as to cater for their fundamental needs, revealing that 7,000 households are under this category and each beneficiary will be given a sum of ₦100,000.
“This programme of ours is being carried out without fear or favour as we have drawn all our beneficiaries from the 16 Local Government Areas of the state. Kwarans of various political affiliation and ideologies have benefited from this scheme which is neither biased nor nepotistic. I will like to implore everyone to cooperate and support this initiative so as to achieve its full potentials”, Tejidini said.