Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has flagged off a state-wide training of the Nigerian COVID-19 Actions Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) in response to the economic downturn due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The training which is an initiative championed by the Federal Government, in partnership with the World Bank is aimed at reducing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the rural economy and improving the livelihood of the vulnerable.
Speaking at the flag-off, Governor Uzodinma noted that the pandemic fumbled the world economy, forcing countries to restrategise on how to save their citizens from hunger and poverty.
He commended the World Bank for their support to the Federal Government to salvage the devastating effect of the pandemic in the country and in Imo state.
“Let me, therefore, use this opportunity to salute the federal government, under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, for its unwavering resolve to better the lives of Nigerians, particularly the less privileged.
“This has been demonstrated time and time again through the various laudable intervention programmes of the federal government. The NG- CARES programme is therefore another manifestation of the government’s genuine concern for the less privileged. I must at this juncture, commend the World Bank for their support to Federal Government and indeed NG-CARES.”
“It is self-evident that the devastating effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the world’s economy has forced many countries to restrategise on how best to save their populace from hunger and disease which are the direct consequences of the pandemic. Imo State being part of the global community is not immune from those challenges, hence today’s ceremony which marks the official flag-off of the statewide training and sensitization programme on Covid-19 Action Recovery Economic Stimulus (CARES).”
“This programme as we all know was fashioned to mitigate the local effects of COVID-19 pandemic on existing and newly poor and vulnerable households in our state. It is envisaged that within the next 18 to 24 months, the objectives of the programme would have been realized.”
He noted that the development objective of the programme is to ensure food security and the safe function of food supply chains in the 27 local government areas of the state, which would involve three component parts, including the distribution of inputs and service provision; seeds and fertilizer; livestock inputs and extension services.
He added that it will also require agricultural assets for production and mitigation of food losses as well as upgrading water and sanitation in the markets.
Governor Uzodinma maintained that his government will tackle the programme with the same zeal they employed in fighting the pandemic itself when it welcomed his administration into office.
“On the part of the government, we shall tackle the NG-CARES programme with the same zeal that we employed in fighting the pandemic itself. You can recall that the Covid 19 pandemic almost welcomed us into the office and through proactive measures and single-minded determination; we have been able to discharge our responsibility to Imo people.
“It is reassuring that the NG-CARES programme is intended to assist the poor and vulnerable in our society. That is also at the core of the shared prosperity agenda of this administration. Since last year, we have evolved several policies to help alleviate poverty in the state.
“Apart from ensuring that verified Civil Servants and Pensioners are paid promptly, we have gone ahead to rehabilitate critical infrastructure including industries to provide jobs for our people.”
He noted major achievements of his administrations recounting the empowerment of 15,000 youths in the state, who he said received sums of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand naira each to set up businesses of their own.
“Just last Saturday, we empowered 15,000 youths with Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand naira each to set up businesses of their own. Before then, women and other youths were similarly trained and empowered as a means of chasing poverty away from our state.
“Again as a means of stimulating our economy, we are building roads across the state so that our rural areas would be accessible and the inhabitants can move their agricultural produce with ease to the urban areas.
“We have also created the enabling environment for the flourishing of small and medium scale enterprises in our state as a means of eradicating poverty.”
According to him, the training programme will complement the efforts of his administration to boost the economy of the state while urging citizens to remain resilient.
