Friday, 10 February 2017

EDO GOVT TO PARTNER UNICEF, LAPO ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo says his administration will partner with the United Nation's International Children Education Fund (UNICEF) and Lift Above Poverty Organization (LAPO) to improve socio-economic development in the state, especially in rural areas.
Obaseki disclosed this at the state Government House in Benin on Wednesday while receiving the senior management staff of LAPO, a Benin Based Non-Governmental Organization led by its Founder, Dr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe.
Governor Obaseki with the CEO of LAPO - Dr. Ehigiamusoe
Governor Obaseki with the LAPO Delegation

He said the provision of social infrastructure in the rural areas would go a long way in addressing core challenges in the areas, adding that his administration was currently working with UNICEF in the provision of water in every community in the state.
The Governor added that it would also collaborate with LAPO in the water project and in the areas of Agriculture and Small and Medium Scale Development in the State.
The water project would be community-Government-private assisted and would be instrumental in addressing health challenges in the communities.
Obaseki commended LAPO for its economic programmes which had impacted positively in the lives of the poor and improved access to finance.
He said that his government would collaborate with the Microfinance Bank in providing more capital to women traders.
Earlier, the founder of LAPO, Dr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe said that the organization was willing to partner the state government for the overall development of people in the state.
He said that the organization in 2016, disbursed loan of N140.4 billion to institutions within and outside the country with N10.2 billion of the amount to owners of MSME in the state.
 Ehigiamusoe, who is also the Managing Director of LAPO MicroFinance Bank, said that the organization was also involved in community development programmes geared towards improving the health of people at the grass roots.
 Acknowledging government as a lead development partner in any nation, Ehigiamusoe requested the state government partnership in the provision of cancer screening facilities centres in the state.
He listed other areas of collaboration to include rural medical outreaches across the state, micro small and medium enterprises development consisting of access to finance, micro leasing and training.


REPORT BY KINGSLEY UCHEGBU

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