In a quest to address child vulnerabilities and to reduce multidimensional poverty, local government Chairmen, the media Nongovernmental organizations and ministries including traditional rulers on Wednesday converged on Akure to discuss on At Risk Children Program (ARC-P).
Various NGO, traditional rulers and civil society groups were represented including the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Prince Leke Adegbite represented by the Union’s Treasurer, Hajia Fatima Muraina while the Ondo State Governor’s Special Adviser on Gender, Hon Olamide Falana led some government officials to the the stakeholders’ meeting.
This is just as Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, CON, represented by his Deputy, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa yesterday Inaugurated the Project Advisory Committee on ARC-P (At-Risk Children Programme), an Initiative of Federal Government.
The Inauguration which was witnessed by Senior Special Adviser to President on Social Investment, Hajia Mariam Uwais and her management team who were in the State to ensure full implementation of the federal government policy, took place at Deputy Governor’s Office, Alagbaka Akure on Wednesday.
ARC-P is set up by the federal government with the vision to comprehensively address social and economic concerns of children at risk, thereby providing them with a life of dignity.
Speaking through the commissioner for women affairs, Dr. Mrs Adebunmi Osadahun, the first lady of Ondo state, Arabinrin Betty Anyawu Akeredolu in her address stated that the initiative will impact lives of vulnerable children and it will compliment effort of the state government in eradicating poverty in the state.
In a remark, the Senior Special Adviser to President on Social Investment, Hajia Mariam Uwais noted that “At Risk Children Program” is designed to address the deprivation and challenges of children and youths who have been on the margins of the society, who have not been able to engage on the support that government can give.
Hajia Mariam Uwais stressed that the national team shares opportunities and learnings from private sector, from the development partners, from the MDAs at the federal level with the structures at state level.
“We’re not trying to create anything new, we’re trying to leverage on what is existing in Ondo State. Ondo State has done what they are supposed to do, they have signed an MOU with us to do certain things, if they want us to supplement and compliment their efforts”.
“It’s not about money, it’s passion, it’s about wanting to do the right thing for people who are entitled, it’s about providing data and they have agreed to provide it, they will set up hubs in the community where the children converge, they’ve set up a team already that will support the implementation, because we can’t implement, they will also ensure that a lot of these things are done objectively at every local government”.
“We are creating an army of competence and capacity at community level, people who will mentor children who are out lf school, who will engage them, train them on entrepreneurship, on basic literacy, on skills, on climate change, on Agriculture, on sports, on digital skills and also, protect them and report back to the federal government”, the SSA said.
Mrs Olabisi Omolona, the state Coordinator of Child Protection Network, lauded the program because the government has taken it upon themselves to train the children which will make the society a better one, as the children will not become a problem to the society.
The Chairperson of the People living with disabilities, Princess Folasade Arise appreciated the state government for always including people with disabilities in programs that will be of good benefits to them. She added that PWD will participate in the program and will surely do well.
AIYEDATIWA INUAGURATES ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ARC-P.
Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, CON, represented by his Deputy, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa has Inaugurated the Project Advisory Committee on ARC-P (At-Risk Children Programme), an Initiative of Federal Government.
The State ARC-P committee is being led by Wife of the State Governor, Chief Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu.
Other members of the committee were:
*– Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan.
* — Commissioner of Health, Dr Banji Ajaka.
*– Commissioner of Youth and Sports, Hon Dele Ologun.
*– Special Adviser to Governor on Gender, Mrs Olamide Falana .
* — Special Adviser to Governor on Rural and Community Development, Hon Kolawole Babatunde.
* — Senior Special Assistant to Governor on Security, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo.
*– Member of Project Advisory Committee also included Representative of Civil Society of Nigeria, Mr Franklin Oloniju.
The Governor thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the initiative which according him will go a long way in alleviating poverty as well as giving voice to the vulnerable citizens .
“The primary mandate of any government is for the total wellbeing of it’s people, this we have been doing in Ondo State” .
“And with this kind of programme, for the vulnerable, we want to thank the federal government represented here by the Special Adviser to the President, Hajia Uwais” .
“To us in Ondo State, we are ready to partner with federal government on this initiative, as the committee being led by our first lady is more than ready to drive members of the committee for positive results” , he assured.
“With the caliber of people in the committee, I know they will scale the system, all we need is the resources to drive the project” , Akeredolu said.
Speaking on behalf of the committee after the inauguration, Her Excellency, Chief (Mrs.) Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu said, “we are happy that this project is coming to Ondo State”.
“This is a project that is bound to succeed based on its potentials.”
