Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih highlights that the Lagos State Government is promoting social inclusion through NG-CARES

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals, Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih has described the NG-CARES initiative as a support structure that is advancing social inclusion in Lagos State.

Dr. Finnih, who stated this recently at the official presentation of Certificates to outgoing beneficiaries of the NG-CARES (DLI 1.2) Labour Intensive Public Workfare held at the Onigbongbo LCDA Secretariat, Ikeja, disclosed that one of the core priorities of government in the attainment of SDGs is the creation of opportunities for citizens’ empowerment.

She explained that as a state-level intervention programme designed to alleviate the local effects of the pandemic by safeguarding the livelihoods of both existing and newly vulnerable households, beneficiaries of the schemes are predominantly unemployed and unskilled youth and women from vulnerable households, between the ages of 18 and 45 years.

In her words, “The Office of Sustainable Development Goals, responsible for initiating the Labour-Intensive Public Workfare of the programme in Lagos State, has in the last year implemented this project across all 57 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the state, targeting identified vulnerable individuals.

According to her, this delivery platform plays a pivotal role in the overall implementation of the NG-CARE project. It is designed to significantly enhance the socio-economic well-being of vulnerable members of society and alleviate their challenges.

Dr. Finnih stated that the primary objective is to provide immediate employment opportunities in social sectors, thereby addressing the emergency constraints caused by the loss of labour income in poor and vulnerable households due to the COVID-19 pandemic.