As part of its effort to make life more bearable for the unemployed and unskilled youths in the state, the Oyo State Government, in collaboration with the World Bank, has presented payment debit cards to the Labour-Intensive Public Works (LIPW) beneficiaries.
The Chairman of the Oyo State Agency for Youths Development, Prince Adebowale Falana, made the symbolic presentation of payment debit cards for the third and fourth rounds of LIPW beneficiaries of OYS-CARES at the Ibadan North Local Government Secretariat, Ibadan.
According to him, “The programme is part of a broader emergency package with a Programme Development Objective (PDO) to expand access to livelihood support and food security services, grants for poor and vulnerable households and firms.”
“It is worthy to note that OYS-CARES, in its own area of operations, is collaborating with the Sustainable Actions for Economic Recovery (SAfER) programme of the State Government.”
He stressed that the present administration in the State will continue to prioritize the fate and future of the youth in all its activities and that the Oyo State Government remains committed to providing necessary financial support and an enabling environment for further interventions.
He said “This year, another 5,610 beneficiaries engaged in the third and fourth rounds will collect their debit cards for easy payment of their stipends today.”
He therefore implored all the beneficiaries to carry out their activities as expected during the programme period.
In his goodwill message, the Executive Chairman of Ibadan North Local Government, Hon. Olufade Seun, explained that the objective of the programme is to provide immediate employment opportunities for the less privileged and financially disadvantaged individuals at the grassroots.
According to him, “the beneficiaries are usually engaged in some public works activities which include garbage and refuse collection and disposal, traffic control, cutting and cleaning of bushes in public places, sweeping, and clearing.”
He encouraged the beneficiaries to manage their monthly stipend wisely to achieve or meet certain needs.
In her welcome address, the Executive Secretary of the Oyo State Agency for Youth Development, Mrs. Bassey Nancy Muraina, said the beneficiaries are majorly unemployed and unskilled youths from poor and vulnerable households.
She said the beneficiaries are selected from the State Social Single Register domiciled in the State Operations Coordination Unit (SOCU).
According to her, the beneficiaries will be working within their communities for four hours per day for twenty-four days in a month and will be paid Ten Thousand Naira (₦10,000) monthly.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries Mr. Mustapha Salaudeen from Ibadan South East, and Mrs. Wuraola Ojo stated that the Labour-Intensive Public Works (LIPW) programme has been remarkable in their lives especially, during these challenging times. “We use the money given to us to complete the assigned tasks, although the workload exceeds the number of workers, but we are managing.”
They explained that the tasks assigned to participants vary as some assists the elderly in crossing the main road, some sweep and clean the environment, while others cut down unnecessary trees along the roads
“We hereby thank the Oyo State Government and the World Bank for their support.”
