By Yusufu Aminu Idegu, Lokoja
The executive chairman of Igalamela/Odolu local government of Kogi state Hon
Cosmos Ataboh has challenged civil Society organisations to increase their public awareness campaign on poverty alleviation programs in the state.
Hon Ataboh said the less privilege members of the society meant to benefit the state social security protection facilities of the state government are not even aware of it.
Hon Ataboh gave the challenge in his remarks during the Community Outreach program organised by a consortium led by ACT NAIJA PROJECT co-founded by the European Union (EU)
According to Hon Ataboh, “There are numbers of social welfare facilities like conditional Cash Transfer, free legal services, free medical services for pregnant women, students loan and other social welfare services.
“But the poor and less privileged members of the state that are meant to enjoy these poverty alleviation facilities are not even aware due to lack of proper information awareness
.
“That is why I’m using the opportunity of this Community Outreach program by ACT NAIJA and other civil Society organizations to call for increased public awareness in the rural communities. The people need to be told how to access these poverty alleviation programs”
The Council boss applauded the organisers for taking the responsibility to sensitise the people on their rights and privilages made available by the federal and state government. By this outreach program in Ajaka today, ANEJ is complementing government efforts and we are simply asking for more because the awareness is still not enough”
State coordinator of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) Halima Oyiza Sadiq in his opening address noted that the Community Outreach is an opportunity to bring government closer to the people.
She said, “We want people of the rural areas to enjoy these poverty alleviation facilities like the cash transfer to enable you better your welfare and increase your income. That was why we are going from community to community to sensitise the people.
“Today in Ajaka, in Igalamela/Odolu local government, we have officers from the social protection offices who has the required knowledge to educate the rural communities on how to access these poverty alleviation facilities”
In their various addresses, the guest speakers from the Social Welfare offices, Coordinator of Kogi state Cash Transfer Office, Kogi state Ministry of Women affairs and Social Development, State coordinator Public Defender and Citizens Rights Commission took their turn to educate the participants on the poverty alleviation programs available and how the people can access them for their benefits.
The paramount traditional ruler in the local government, The Etemahi Igalamela, who was represented by Chief James Abuja said the outreach program was an eye opener and empowerment to the people because he said , “information is power”
The one day community outreach program was attended by community leader, youths leaders, women leaders, people with disability, managers of orphanages and several others.
