BY SUNDAY EGEDE
DELTA State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, yesterday, said his administration has empowered a total of 266,737Deltans under its various social intervention and empowerment programmes in the state.
Governor Oborevwori disclosed this while presenting state of the State address to members of the Delta State House of Assembly at the hallowed chamber of the Assembly Complex. He disclosed that his administration has remained deliberate, intentional, and proactive in providing a safety net for vulnerable groups through well-targeted social protection initiatives in the face of the prevailing economic challenges.
According to him, the 266,737 beneficiaries were empowered through the Delta CARES (D-CARES) Programme; Women Empowerment and Skill Acquisition Programme (WESAP); Working Fingers Initiative; MORE Grants Scheme; MORE Biz-Up Programme and Widows Welfare Scheme.
Under the D-CARES programme, he said, 247,000 Deltans have been empowered, in addition to the release of One Billion Naira counterpart funding for the Africa Union Development Agency, New Partnership for African Development (AUDA NEPAD), adding that the initiative had empowered 2,000 farmers for food production, livestock, and aquaculture. The Governor further disclosed that 220 women were recently trained in fashion and design, hair dressing, catering, decoration and event management and make-up and gele tying under WESAP, pointing out that the gesture was also, extended to 91 people living with disabilities who were trained in ICT, confectionaries, fashion and design, and leather work.
“We, also, distributed fertilizers to farmers across the 25 local government areas of the state in support of our drive to ensure food security,” the Governor said.
He added that the state government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, trained and supported 2,000 women across the state in practical skills, mental health education, and entrepreneurship under the ‘Working Fingers Initiative’
Through the MORE Grants Scheme, he said, the state government empowered micro and small-scale businesses and supports low-income earners in the face of economic hardship, saying that the state government had provided direct financial support to 5,426 petty traders and small-scale business owners under the scheme. “Through the Job and Wealth Creation Bureau, we have supported 2,000 MSMEs with funding and business support packages under the MORE Biz-Up Programme.
“These programmes underscore our firm resolve to build a resilient and inclusive economy that uplifts the most vulnerable and promotes shared prosperity. “This administration has our widows in mind, and we shall continue to do all within our power to make life easier and better for them under the widows welfare scheme.
“I have just approved the payment of N15,000.00 naira monthly stipend for 10,000 widows across the state,” the Governor added.
While appreciating the Speaker and members of the State Legislature for the excellent relationship between the House and Executive, the Governor noted that his administration could not have achieved the much it had achieved without the support and cooperation that exist between both arms of government.
“I consider myself blessed to have a legislature that is fully committed to partnering with the Executive to achieve its goals and objectives. The relationship between this House and my office has been characterized by trust, mutual understanding, transparency, and accountability.
“At this juncture, I want to briefly comment on the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS). As a former Speaker, I believe in the new salary scale but owing to the introduction of a new minimum wage, this administration needed to do its due diligence before taking a position.
