Kaduna, Aug. 27, 2024 (TheGavel) — Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has underscored his administration’s dedication to poverty alleviation and enhancing the lives of vulnerable populations during the inaugural Kaduna State Social Protection Summit, held on Tuesday in Kaduna.
In his address, Sani highlighted several pro-poor initiatives implemented since his administration took office in May 2023. These measures include the signing of an Executive Order on Financial Inclusion aimed at expanding access to financial services and social intervention programs for the state’s underserved and vulnerable citizens.
To date, 2 million bank accounts have been opened for these groups, with a goal of reaching 2.5 million accounts. The governor also announced the enactment of the State Social Security Bill and the Kaduna State Social Investment Programmes Bill. These laws established an agency dedicated to coordinating social protection efforts throughout the state.
Key flagship programs introduced by the administration include:
- The State Universal Child Grant Programme: Aimed at providing financial support to families with children.
- The Ultra-Poor Graduation Programme for Women in Rural Areas: Designed to assist women in transitioning out of extreme poverty.
- The State Old-Age Social Pension Scheme for the Informal Sector: Targeting elderly citizens not covered by formal pension schemes.
The summit, themed “Rethinking Social Protection Systems: Building Integrated Systems for Comprehensiveness and Financial Inclusion,” served as a platform to showcase Kaduna’s social protection efforts and to explore innovative strategies for further poverty alleviation.
Mrs. Bridget Suleman, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Social Investment, emphasized the summit’s role in facilitating dialogue among stakeholders and generating actionable recommendations for enhancing social protection systems. She stressed the importance of financial inclusion and a comprehensive social register in fostering a more equitable society, and called for strengthened partnerships to effectively implement these social protection initiatives.
The summit represents a significant milestone in Kaduna’s ongoing efforts to build an inclusive and resilient social protection system, aiming to empower all citizens towards economic independence and social mobility.
Dear readers, we really need your support to keep on serving you with authoritative, truthful, and juicy stories everyday. For your support, please reach out to the editor @gavelinternational66@gmail.com