The Kaduna state Deputy Governor, Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe has disclosed that the state has captured 3.9 million vulnerable and poor residents in its social register as well as over 1 million vulnerable households across the 255 wards of the state.
She made this known at the close-out meeting for the local rights programmes learning organised by ActionAid Nigeria, in Kaduna.
She said the state government believes in partnerships and collaborations in achieving their development agenda, saying, “We remain open and receptive to working hand-in-hand with organizations like ActionAid Nigeria to achieve our shared objectives.
“Kaduna State Government is committed to addressing issues of social justice, promoting equality of opportunities and protecting the human rights of all residents of the state.”
To this end, she pointed out that “in keeping with these commitments, the government has sustained budgetary investments in the social sector, leading to the expansion of healthcare access in underserved areas.”
In the same vein, she said there is an increased enrolment in primary and secondary schools, which are now free and compulsory in all our public schools.
According to her, the state has created the social investment office to coordinate and implement social intervention programmes to support the vulnerable and poor populations of our dear state.
Earlier, ActionAid Nigeria’s Local Rights Programme Manager, Kehindo Arowosegbe said in the early 2000s, Kaduna and Nassarawa States the first beneficiaries of the transformative Partnership Against Poverty (PAP) now called Local Rights Programme, an initiative of ActionAid Nigeria (AAN).
According to him, the LRP Programme in Kaduna State was more concentrated in Southern Kaduna, an area burdened by dire socio-economic indicators but with a few communities in Northern Kaduna.
“The absence of basic social amenities, such as clean water, adequate health facilities, and well-developed road networks, weighed heavily on the communities’ shoulders.”
Also, he remarked,” Teenage pregnancies were prevalent, exacerbating the challenges faced by young girls. The high incidence of HIV/AIDS posed a grave threat to the community’s well-being, leaving behind a trail of orphans.”
Also speaking, ActionAid Ngeria’s Country Director, Ene Obi, said the local rights programme has been a driving force in empowering vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities, equipping them with essential skills and capacities to demand their rights and engage with political and institutional power structures.
“We have witnessed the transformation of community members from mere onlookers to active responders in developing their communities. Today, as we close this chapter, let us reflect on the impact we have made.
“Our strategic partnerships with government agencies at both state and local levels have paved the way for lasting change and social justice in Kaduna State. We leave behind a legacy of resilience, empowerment, and community-driven progress.”
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