By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
The Bauchi State World Bank Assisted intervention under the Nigeria Covid-19 Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) has officially presented the Guideline Manual for the implementation of the program.
Presenting the guideline manual at a well attended sensitization meeting with key stakeholders at the banquet hall of Government House Bauchi on Friday evening , Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Ibrahim Kashim expressed confidence that the manual will equip state actors with the basic information and knowledge required for successful implementation and best outcomes of the program in Bauchi State.
He also stated that the present administration of Governor Bala Mohammed had prioritized the empowerment of vulnerable target groups with specific focus on youth and women, aimed at improving their economic status and wealth creation.
The SSG, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the state governor on General Services, Hashimu Yakubu, called on the project team of the livelihood grant support to implement the project with high sense of patriotism, commitment, honesty and in line with the project implementation guidelines.
“Huge investments have been made by Bauchi State Government under the administration of His Excellency, Governor Bala Mohammed in the area of sustaining micro-economic, small and medium enterprises, the results of these investments are visible in providing gainful entrepreneurial activities, stemming the tide of youth restiveness and improving socio-economic activities.
“The DLI 1.3 intervention under the NG-CARES is therefore here to compliment our efforts at accelerating socio-economic activities and improved standard of living for the poor especially at the rural areas”, said the SSG.
Barr. Kashim also assured the critical stakeholders that the state government will continue to support any intervention that will better the lot of it’s citizens.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Sale Idris Giade, represented by Head of the DLI 1.3 Program in the State, Bala Yakubu Lame, said that the main objective of the intervention is to expand access to livelihood support, food security services and grants for poor and vulnerable households.
Giade further said that, “in seeking to achieve the set objectives, the program will provide short livelihoods, soft skills training and one-off payments to economically active and self-employed youth and women in Bauchi State”.
While giving an overview of the livelihood grant support (DLI 1.3) program, NG-CARES State Project Coordinator Mallam Dahiru Sambo highlighted some of the benefits of DLI 1.3 to includes acquisition of soft skills that will enhance livelihood of individuals, families and the community at large..
“Economically, it will help beneficiaries to undertake some economic activities, thereby boosting consumption and improving economic status of beneficiaries.. The multiplier effect will be in the provision of job opportunities and reduction in redundancy”, said Sambo.
Sambo also said that appropriate sanctions against defaulters and violation of the rules guiding the implementation of the DLI 1.3 program were clearly spelt out in the manual.
In his vote of thanks the state head of Livelihood Grant Support program Bala Lame, represented by Adamu Nayola disclosed that beneficiaries for the program will be selected using the already existing and updated State Social Register.
He thanked Governor Bala Mohammed for creating an enabling environment and supporting the implementing Agency of the program (SEMA), geared toward successful implementation of the DLI 1.3 program.
Highlights of the occasion was the presentation of the Guideline Manual, which was also translated into Hausa language, to the general public by SSG.