Lagos First Lady, bags OVC Grand Ambassador Award as LASG, USAID launch ARFH-ICHSSA 2 project
By Moses Adeniyi
Lagos State First Lady, Dr. (Mrs) Ibojoke Sanwo-Olu has been awarded Grand Ambassador For Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in recognition of her enormous contributions that have ameliorated the condition of OVC.
The award was bestowed on the first lady at the event of the official launch of the Association for Reproductive and Family Health-Integrated – Child Health and Social Services Award 2 Project (ARFH-ICHSSA), by the Lagos State Government and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The project, it was gathered, was in a bid to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on Orphans and vulnerable children and their caregivers.
Sanwo-Olu commended the USAID for the resources they have channeled to the OVC project which she described as “an all round that touches the people in different ways” and the Ministry of Youth and Social Development (MYSD) for producing OVC State Operational Plan.
In his keynote address, the State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Segun Dawodu, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Olugbenga Ayoola, stated that the 5-year project has reached thousands of persons across the breadth and length of the State with resources to give them economic support and tackle health challenges.
Dawodu disclosed that in order to make success of the OVC Project and ensure best practices the State’s Ministry of Youth and Social Development has produced OVC State Operational Plan, set up Technical Steering Committee with the support of USAID and put in place capacity building programmes for Case Managers.
Chairman of the Occasion, MD/CEO, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, represented by Head of Sustainability in the Bank, Mrs Omobolanle Laniyan, lauded the launch of ARFH-ICHSSA 2 Project for its potential to lift thousands of children from deplorable condition.
Wigwe commended Lagos State Government’s commitment to the actualization of the Sustainable Development Goals and urged other agencies to collaborate with the State Government in this regard.
On her part, Country Representative of USAID, Ms Helena Merie, described the development as an exciting new partnership with the Lagos State Government to reduce poverty and health challenges.
“We commend the dynamic leadership of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu that has provided a conducive environment for USAID projects,” she said.
President/CEO, ARFH, Professor Oladapo Ladipo commended the State for her unique productiveness in handling issues affecting OVC as demonstrated by the First Lady and MYSD.
In the same vein, Chief of Party, ARFH-ICHSSA 2 Project, Dr Felix Iwuala said, “the Association for Reproductive and Family Health is implementing the ICHSSA in Lagos State in partnership with Project HOPE and FH1360 with support from the USAID and the MYSD. The Project seeks to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on vulnerable children and their households in Agege, Ajeromi/Ifelodun, Apapa, Badagry, Kosofe, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Ojo, Shomolu and Surulere.”
According to Dr Iwuala, the scope of services to vulnerable children and their caregivers cover health, education, food/ nutrition, psychosocial, legal protection,household economic strengthening and social protection.
The occasion which was attended by beneficiaries of OVC Project, representatives of Community Development Areas, Non Govenrment Organisations, Local Government Areas and Faith Based Organisations also witnessed the presentation of awards by ARFH to Mr Segun Dawodu, Professor Akin Abayomi, the State’s Commissioner for Health, and Professor Babatunde Salako (Director General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research).
