ASABA/Nigeria: Delta State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Sonny Ekedayen, has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to building a more inclusive and resilient society where citizens, especially the vulnerable, have access to essential resources and support.
Ekedayen gave the assurance at the Delta State Social Protection Dialogue held at BON Hotel, Asaba, with the theme “Accelerating Inclusive Social Protection in Delta State—Building Stronger Systems for Poverty Reduction and Resilience.”
“Under the visionary leadership of our Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Delta State has witnessed significant advancements in the implementation of social protection initiatives,” Ekedayen said. “These interventions are carefully designed to tackle poverty and vulnerability, thereby ensuring a more equitable and just society for all.”
He highlighted that the Delta COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (D-CARES), a World Bank-supported initiative, has directly impacted over 247,000 residents through cash transfers, livelihood support, and other programs that extend even to remote communities.
The Commissioner also pointed to the widows’ welfare scheme, which provides a monthly stipend of ₦15,000 to 10,000 widows, alongside free enrollment into the state’s contributory health scheme.
Other initiatives include the MORE Grant Scheme, which has empowered 5,426 petty traders and small business owners, and the Women Empowerment and Skill Acquisition Programme (WESAP), which has equipped women with practical skills, mental health education, and entrepreneurship training.
Notably, the Working Fingers Initiative has trained and supported 2,000 women across the state, while the Job and Wealth Creation Bureau has boosted micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with funding and business support under the BIZUP programme.
Ekedayen encouraged participants to actively contribute their expertise and experiences during the dialogue, stressing the importance of collective effort in strengthening Delta’s social protection systems.
Rev. David Ugolor, Executive Director of the African Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), outlined the objectives of the dialogue, which included reviewing current interventions, unveiling findings from the Act Naija project baseline study, and fostering stronger collaboration between government, civil society, and communities.
He emphasized that social protection is a critical tool for reducing poverty, tackling inequality, and strengthening resilience among vulnerable groups. “This dialogue is vital as it will culminate in actionable proposals and commitments that will support government initiatives, enhance transparency, and encourage active citizen engagement,” Ugolor stated.
The event, co-organized by the Act Naija Project, Bread for the World Germany, ANEEJ, and the New Initiative for Social Development, in partnership with the Ministry of Economic Planning, featured syndicate sessions designed to deepen discussions and build consensus on inclusive strategies for Delta’s future.
