The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and with funding support from the European Union (EU), has launched the Supporting Sustainable Social Protection Systems in Nigeria (SUSI) project in Oyo State, warning that millions of vulnerable Nigerians, especially children, remain excluded from welfare schemes.
The official launch, held Monday at the Local Government Staff Training Centre, Secretariat, Ibadan, brought together stakeholders from government, development partners, and civil society to chart a stronger course for inclusive social protection.
UNICEF’s Chief of Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere, described social protection as “a lifeline, not a luxury,” stressing the urgency of scaling up interventions for poor households.
She revealed that nearly half of Oyo’s population (48.7%) lives in multidimensional poverty, while a staggering 72.7% of children under 17 are poor.
“UNICEF and its partners will work closely with the Oyo State government to strengthen institutions, scale up interventions, and forge effective partnerships that guarantee safety nets for those most in need,” she said.
Acting Governor Bayo Lawal, in his remarks, reiterated the state’s commitment to poverty reduction, citing initiatives rolled out during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include food packages for 200,000 households, N500 million in loans to small businesses, N1 billion to boost food security, and the provision of 46 subsidised buses to ease transportation costs.
“Our administration has taken deliberate steps to fight poverty and support livelihoods,” Lawal said, pledging to integrate the SUSI project into ongoing state programmes.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetumobi, and Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Toyin Balogun, highlighted Governor Seyi Makinde’s broader interventions—such as conditional cash transfers, the Oyo State Health Insurance Scheme, and revitalisation of primary health centres—designed to build a climate-resilient, inclusive society.
Earlier, commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Prof. Musibau Babatunde, noted that social protection is embedded in the state’s long-term plans, referencing its inclusion in the Roadmap for Accelerated Development (2019–2023) and the Roadmap for Sustainable Development (2023–2027).
The SUSI project, funded by the EU and implemented in partnership with UNICEF and ILO, aims to reinforce Nigeria’s social safety net, making it more resilient to shocks, reducing poverty, and promoting equity nationwide.
