From: Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
To combat poverty in Nigeria, the European Union has allocated €1 million for the implementation of the Act Naija project, which aims to strengthen social protection initiatives across the country.
This three-year project will be implemented by Bread For the World (BSW), the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), and the New Initiative for Sustainable Development (NISD).
It will take place in seven states: Enugu, Borno, Delta, Kogi, Ondo, Ekiti, and Osun, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.
During the official launch of the project, Mr. Leo Atakpu, the Deputy Executive Director of ANEEJ, stated that the initiative aims to reach 2,120 individuals.
This group includes 149 civil society organizations, 30 community-based organizations, and five persons with disabilities. Additionally, the project will involve 1,000 members of women’s groups, including 30 traders and farmers, 300 youth leaders, 60 media professionals, 80 government officials, representatives from private sector and international agencies, and 45 internally displaced persons in Borno State.
The €1 million funding comes from the European Union under its Human Rights and Support to Civil Society in Nigeria program.
The coalition emphasized that social protection is a vital mechanism for reducing poverty and inequality while promoting social justice. However, studies indicate that social protection efforts in Nigeria are currently inadequate to meet the needs of vulnerable populations.
On this basis, the Act Naija project seeks to engage civil society organizations (CSOs) to advocate for the needs of various stakeholders, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs). The goal is to build their capacities to access and assert their rights.
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