By Esindu Jacobs
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has given a rundown of the programmes his administration is implementing and other efforts being made to stamp out poverty from the state.
Soludo, at a two-day Partnership Roundtable Meeting attended by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), explained that his administration was making deliberate efforts to uproot poverty from the state.
While flagging off the event organised by the state Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in collaboration with UNICEF at Best Western Meloch Hotel, Awka, Soludo, said that through the massive employment of teachers, healthcare workers; promotion of industrialisation and others, his administration had been able to reduce poverty in the state.
The governor, who was represented by his Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake, assured UNICEF, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other social development organisations of more partnership next year and beyond; saying that their working relationship so far had been cordial.
He said the government would continue to partner with these international organisations on programmes that would help his administration to end poverty and improve the wellbeing of Ndị Anambra and other residents of the state.
“The present administration is making tremendous efforts towards industrialising the state.
“Anambra State has taken laudable steps towards promoting inclusive growth, equality, security and a life of dignity for all. Over the past 20 months, the state government has indeed reformed various social sectors in the state”, he said.
The governor said that he was working hard to improve the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state through the expansion of economic activities, attraction of more investments and exploitation of the abundant resource deposits across the state.
“Our administration is clear about its governance philosophy of transparency, traceability, and holding public office holders to account”, he stated.
Soludo commended UNICEF, UNDP and others for their support, saying that they had added value to the state through their various programmes.
UNICEF Enugu Chief of Field Office, Juliet Chiluwe, commended Soludo for his efforts to develop the state for the benefit of the people, especially the children.
She said that the social protection policy of the government would improve key aspects of human capital development in the state, including social assistance, social care, social insurance, labour market interventions, micro and small enterprises development and complementary measures for social protection in the state.
