Abia Gets €13m EU Boost for Boost for Social Protection

Abia Gets €13m EU Boost for Social Protection

 

 

 

ABIA State Government has unveiled a €13 million European Union-backed initiative to strengthen social protection systems, aimed at broadening support for the state’s most vulnerable residents.

 

Governor Alex Otti inaugurated the Abia State Social Protection Council at the Government House, Umuahia, on Wednesday, praising the EU for its consistent support for the state’s socio-economic development.

 

“The programme is designed to expand our reach and bring more people into the social safety net,” Governor Otti said. “The state is fully committed to providing the necessary support to ensure its success.”

 

The governor highlighted the government’s institutional approach, noting platforms such as the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, the Commission for the Welfare of Disabled Persons, and the Senior Citizen Centre as key drivers of the state’s social protection efforts.

 

“Our goal is to create a state where the basic welfare of every citizen is guaranteed, regardless of circumstance. Poverty and social deprivation are not treated in isolation,” he added.

 

Ambassador Gautier Mignot, Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said the €13 million project, implemented by UNICEF and ILO, will run from 2024 to 2027 across four states, including Abia. The initiative seeks to strengthen Nigeria’s social protection system and ensure no vulnerable person is left behind.

 

“This investment complements the EU’s broader goals in health, education, gender equality, and economic development,” Ambassador Mignot stated, commending Governor Otti for the state’s proactive engagement in social protection programmes.

 

Dr. Vanessa Lerato Phala-Moyo, ILO Country Director for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, described the project as aligned with Governor Otti’s New Abia roadmap and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. She noted that ILO and UNICEF will work together to provide targeted social safety nets for vulnerable groups.

 

The launch also featured the handover of ICT equipment to the state government to help integrate poor and vulnerable households into the National Social Register. The event was attended by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Kenneth Kalu, commissioners, and senior government officials.