UNICEF LAUDS OSUN, AS 610 WOMEN GET LOANS
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has lauded the Osun State Government for being the first in Africa to replicate its activities in rural communities.
UNICEF B- Field Officer, Mr. Kareem Akadiri stated this at the distribution of cheques totalling N6.1million as interest free loans to 610 women who had undergone a two-week intensive training in Skill Acquisition and Income Generating Activities.
The loan of #6.1million, given to the women drawn from 61 communities where UNICEF’s activities were duplicated, is refundable in ten equal installments on or before the end of December, 2008.
The UNICEF boss commended the governor for his commitment to the development of the grassroots exhibited in the replication of UNICEF assisted programme in 61 communities.
He maintained that the activities of the government at the grassroots level would drastically reduce poverty among the rural populace which form the bulk of the populace in the state.
The organisation also appreciated the state government’s passage of the Child Rights Bill into law and the payment of the year 2007 counter part contribution to UNICEF.
The state Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola , in his speech explained that his government expanded the scope of UNICEF’s activities in Osun State so as to spread development across the state.
“Our administration’s decision to expand the base of Community Development Initiatives of UNICEF is borne out of our burning desire to bring into full realization, the objectives of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the nooks and crannies of the State, using the participatory development approach which is considered more enduring and which also promotes community ownership.
“ It is our strong belief that apart from the six Focal Communities which are currently being assisted by UNICEF in the State, if the State Government and its Local Councils could complement this initiative by going to two other communities every three years, development of our social and human capital at the grassroots would be realized in the not too distant future. Under this arrangement, it will not be too long a time before every community is eventually reached,"he said.
He added that “apart from series of capacity building workshops and trainings organized for people in the 61 focal communities, the State Government in collaboration with our Local Governments have facilitated the construction of One Hundred and Twenty Two (122) hand-pump boreholes in the 61 focal communities and the construction of Six Thousand and One Hundred Household Sanitation Platform Latrines in the same 61 model communities.”
Apart from this, 32 Project Vehicles (Izuzu MPI Jeep) were also distributed for the purpose of Monitoring and Evaluation of activities under the replication programme in the 30 LGAs and Area Office.
Lasisi Olagunju
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor,
12th February,2008
