As part of its efforts at ensuring that the lots of orphans and vulnerable children improve, the State Government through the Ministry of Youth and Social Development has empowered 250 heads of vulnerable households with various startup tools.
In his keynote address, the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mr Olusegun Dawodu said, “poverty is a leading cause of household vulnerability and child separation in our society today.Many families are torn apart by stress of trying to provide basic needs leading to children being abandoned, neglected, institutionalised and exploited for financial purposes.”
He added, “the Orphans and Vulnerable Children are affected/infected with HIV/AIDS malnourished due to extreme poverty, marginalised, stigmatised or even discriminated against and need care or protection.”
Mr Dawodu disclosed that Household Economic Strengthening (HES) comprises a portfolio of interventions to reduce the economic vulnerability of families and empower them to provide for the essential needs of the children they care for, rather than relying on external assistance.
In her address, the Permanent Secretary, Pharm (Mrs) Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu said that the empowerment programme is to make significant contributions to the efforts of vulnerable households in the State, help strengthen their economic capacities and empower them to provide more for the essential needs of the children in their care which will ensure that these children are able to access essential services like Safety, Healthcare, Education and other basic needs.
She added, “this programme is one of the actualisation of the T.H.E.M.E.S Developmental Agenda of this present administration and the fulfilment of Mr Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s promise to reduce poverty in the State to the barest minimum, increase their economic independence and improve their ability to provide for their children.”
Entrepreneurship coach, Mrs Victoria Ekarika, enlightened the beneficiaries of the programme on things they need for them to have business plan, budget, financial discipline, saving culture, investment plan and record keeping in order for them to be successful in business.
Among the beneficiaries of the 2021 edition were Ms Stella Onyelu,Ms Precious, Olayinka Johnson and Funmi Okafor who testified to how training and empowerment tools they were given helped in no small measure to improve their financial life.
Deep Freezer, Pop corn making machine, Vulcanizer machine, Hair dryer, Sewing machine, Clipper and Grinding machine were among the empowerment tools distributed this year.