By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Oyo state government in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), International Labour Organisation (ILO), and the European Union (EU), has officially launched the implementation process of the Support to a Sustainable Social Protection System Project (EUSUSI) in Oyo State.
The initiative, which is being piloted in four states Abia, Benue, Oyo, Sokoto including FCT, aims to build a more resilient, inclusive, and shock-responsive social protection system for Nigeria’s most vulnerable groups, including children, the poorest households, displaced persons, and people living with disabilities.
The event held at the Executive Council Chambers of the Governor’s Office, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan on Monday.
Speaking, the Chief of UNICEF’s Southwest Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere who represented UNICEF Country Representative Ms.Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, explained that the EU-funded project will strengthen social protection systems at both national and state levels.
She noted that UNICEF has engaged the Economic Policy Research Institute (EPRI) to review the National Social Registry (NSR) and social protection policies.
She said, “Through this support, UNICEF has commissioned reviews to improve the coverage, accuracy, and efficiency of identifying Nigeria’s poor and vulnerable. These assessments will provide concrete recommendations to enhance inclusivity, efficiency, and resilience of Nigeria’s social protection systems, with a special emphasis on child sensitivity and shock responsiveness.”
Lafoucriere stressed that social protection is not charity but a right, saying “Every citizen has the right to social security. It is about dignity, enabling parents to send their children to school instead of putting them to work, or being able to choose between buying food and medicine. Social protection represents hope that every child and family can live with dignity and security.”
Speaking on behalf of the State government at the launch, Acting Governor, Bayo Lawal described the programme as “a landmark achievement to promote social inclusion and advance sustainable development in Oyo State.”
He commended the EU, UNICEF, and ILO for their support and highlighted the state’s ongoing efforts to reduce poverty.
“In Oyo State, we have prioritised social protection. Investments have been made to cushion economic shocks and reduce poverty through the Sustainable Actions for Economic Recovery (SAFER) initiative, a multi-faceted programme launched by the government to address the impact of the fuel subsidy removal.
“These include distributing food to 250,000 households, disbursing N500 million and N1billion for businesses, providing free healthcare to over 40,000 people, and supporting 1,000 poultry farmers. The EU-SUSI project will consolidate these gains and reinforce our policies to reach an even greater population of vulnerable citizens,” Lawal said.
Also speaking, ILO Regional Project Manager, Guite Diop who represented the ILO Country Director, Ms. Vanessa Phala, emphasised that the collaboration is essential to ensure no one is left behind.
“This project aligned with Governor Seyi Makinde’s roadmap for development in Oyo State, particularly in health and education, and will help strengthen the social protection framework to support the most vulnerable populations. It requires dedication, but together we will establish and maintain an institutional framework that expands coverage and builds resilience,” he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Professor Musibau Babatunde recalled that the state has been working on the framework of social protection since the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic opened our eyes to the importance of a strong social protection system. Oyo State has since taken the lead by creating an institutional framework to reduce poverty and guarantee inclusiveness. With the support of UNICEF, ILO, and the EU, we are setting the pace for layered development,” he stated.
In their various good will messages, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetumobi and Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Toyin Balogun, said that under the Seyi Makinde led administration, the state is laying a strong foundation for a population that is climate resilient through various interventions of the state government and high include conditional cash transfer to vulnerable groups, Oyo State state Health Insurance scheme and the revitalisation of the primary health care centers.
The launch also featured a field engagement, where Mohammed Okorie, UNICEF Programme Manager at the South-West Field Office, highlighted the use of modern tools to better target vulnerable households.
“Poor households are now being identified through their National Identification Numbers (NIN) and bank accounts. By the end of 2026, an additional 250,000 households will have been included in the National Social Register,” he explained.
The event also had in attendance Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, Commissioner for Health, Mrs. Toyin Balogun, Commissioner for Women and Social Inclusion, alongside other commissioners, development partners, civil society organisations, and senior government officials.
