• Says launching of command center key to programme sustainability
It was a moment of history as the Kwara State government Tuesday, April 6, launched the Command Center of Kwara State Social Investment Programmes (KWASSIP).
Arguably first of its kind at the regional level, KWASSIP mirrors the Federal Government led National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP).
The launching, which was graced by the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, had in attendance Mr Uzoma Nwagba, Chief Operating Officer of the Bank of Industry BOI’s Growth Platform; Alhaji Abdullahi Saad, Babaloja General of Kwara State; and top government officials.
After the event, The Ravens NG had an exclusive chat with the Acting General Manager of KWASSIP, Mohammed Brimah.
Brimah explained how KWASSIP through Owo Arugbo (Conditional Cash Transfer), Owo Isowo (TraderMoni) and K-Power has helped mitigate insecurity in the state.
The KWASSIP boss noted that the social protection scheme is modelled after the Federal Government led NSIP.
According to Brimah, KWASSIP will outlive any government as it is an institutionalised and formalised structure with a dedicating budget, while calling for needed support from the government and relevant stakeholders to run the intervention.
“Stakeholders’ support is important when you have programmes like this running. With the launching of our Command Center, we are on our way to forever as it will serve as a key part of the sustainability of the programme and a key reason why stakeholders should buy in this initiative because as we are now, we are open to the public for further questioning and verification.”
Mr Brimah maintained that with the distribution of Owo Arugbo, the Kwara State government is finding a lasting solution to the issues of insecurity that is plaguing some parts of the state and at the same time empowering Kwara youths with 21st century skills that would see them competing with their peers in the new world.
He said: “We will all believe that unequal distribution of wealth has been the key reason for insecurity over the years. We have those wreaking havoc on our State believing they have been marginalised and they believe they should come for their own share of the national wealth, but now, KWASSIP is putting down a yearly budget to take care of the downtrodden in the hinterland.
“We can see the Kwara State Government under the AbdulRahman-led administration focus on basic health care centres, schools and on infrastructures in the rural areas across the State, but these can’t be a success without providing an instant form of succour the people in the reserved areas.”
“Again, K-Power, one of the initiative under KWASSIP is targeted at Kwara youths. We will all agree that youth restiveness can make our youths involved in illicit acts, rather than keeping youths that are unengaged with nothing to do that would rather turn to street urchins, last year during the lockdown, we (KWASSIP) trained over 13,000 youths in basic digital skills. This year, we are looking at intermediary and advanced digital skills that will keep our youths busy, engage and provide jobs for them.
“With these, we are looking for peace and security in Kwara State due to the advent of Kwara State Social Investment Programmes (KWASSIP).”
