The Acting Governor of Oyo State, Barrister Abdulraheem Adebayo Lawal, on Monday, officially launched the Sustainable Social Protection Initiative in Nigeria (SUSI) for Oyo State.
Westernmirror.com.ng reports that SUSI is a programme designed to strengthen social protection systems and tackle poverty across the state. Oyo is one of four states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) selected for the programme.
Barrister Lawal, on behalf of the government and people of Oyo State, expressed profound gratitude to the EU and its partners, saying the state looks forward to the transformative impact the programme will deliver in the lives of its citizens.
The initiative, funded by the European Union (EU) with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) as partners, seeks to expand Oyo State’s social protection coverage, ensuring that vulnerable groups benefit from sustainable support systems.
Speaking at the official launch, held at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Barrister Lawal described the initiative as a landmark step in the state’s pursuit of inclusive growth and sustainable development.
“In Oyo State, we have consistently prioritized social protection as a cornerstone of our governance agenda. Over the past few years, deliberate investments have been made to reduce poverty, expand healthcare coverage, and improve access to targeted social interventions,” he said.
Lawal noted that the state recently expanded the social register by adding about 24,000 households, covering more than 100,000 individuals eligible for various intervention programmes.
He highlighted the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) as one of the state’s flagship initiatives to cushion the impact of national economic reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies.
According to him, SAfER has so far distributed food packages to over 200,000 households, disbursed ₦500 million in loans to small businesses, provided ₦1 billion in grants to boost food production, introduced 46 subsidized buses to ease transportation costs, extended free healthcare to more than 40,000 pensioners, and expanded health insurance coverage to an additional 150,000 vulnerable people, including inmates.
He added that farmers and youth entrepreneurs have also benefitted through targeted agricultural and business support schemes.
The Acting Governor stressed that the EU-SUSI project would consolidate these achievements by embedding stronger policies, legal frameworks, and financial mechanisms into the state’s social protection system.
“The project will reinforce policy, legal, and financial mechanisms, embedding shock-responsive systems within both federal and state planning structures,” Lawal said.
Key deliverables of the programme include the expansion of the National Social Register, enhanced technical capacity for policymakers, development of a comprehensive social protection bill for legislative consideration, and the establishment of a modernized Social Protection Management Information System.
In his welcome address, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Professor Musibau Babatunde, said the initiative aligns with Governor Seyi Makinde’s Roadmap for Accelerated Development (2019–2023) and Roadmap for Sustainable Development (2023–2027), particularly in the area of social inclusion.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, and Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Toyin Balogun, also commended the EU for considering Oyo State, assuring that the government remains committed to ensuring that no one is left behind in its developmental efforts.
The Chief of UNICEF Field Office for the South West, Ms. Celine Lafoucriere, in her address earlier, emphasized the importance of robust social protection systems in reducing poverty and safeguarding the rights of vulnerable groups.
“With the EU’s support and in collaboration with the ILO, UNICEF is committed to working with Oyo State to build a more resilient and effective social protection system,” she said.
The event was graced by top government officials, members of the Oyo State House of Assembly, and international partners, including representatives from UNICEF and the ILO.