Oyo State’s Poverty Alleviation Drive: 500 Beneficiaries Receive Grants in First Phase

The Oyo State Government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, has launched a symbolic distribution of cash grants aimed at alleviating poverty for four million indigent and vulnerable citizens. The initiative, known as the “Oyo State Poverty Alleviation Grant” (OPAG), was inaugurated at a ceremony held at the Presidential Lodge, Oyo State Government House, Agodi, Ibadan.

In her remarks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Honourable Oluwatoyin Balogun, announced that the first phase of the program had provided financial assistance to 500 beneficiaries. These beneficiaries include indigent women with multiple births, the elderly, and people living with disabilities. She emphasized that the grant targets those who applied for economic financial aid to support their micro and nano businesses. Balogun further revealed that the program aims to reach a total of four million beneficiaries by 2027, marking a significant expansion in the state’s poverty alleviation efforts.

Delivering their goodwill messages, Honourable Olufunke Olajide, Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Oyo State Assembly, and Sikiru Sanda, Chairman of the Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, encouraged beneficiaries to use the grants effectively. They urged recipients to invest in their businesses to stimulate economic growth and help reduce unemployment rates in Oyo State.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Lateef Ariori, Director of Community Development at the Ministry, highlighted that the financial support is a key initiative of the current administration. He described it as a strategic mechanism designed to lift people out of abject poverty and improve the socio-economic conditions of vulnerable groups within the state.

The launch of the OPAG program signifies the government’s commitment to empowering its citizens, particularly those in dire need, by providing them with the means to create sustainable livelihoods and improve their quality of life.