The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed a renewed commitment to work with sub-national governments toward improved investment in social protection.

UNICEF chief of Lagos field office, Celine Lafoucriere, stated this at the official launch of the “Supporting Sustainable Social Protection System(SUSI) Project” on Monday in Ibadan.

The SUSI project is a joint project implemented by UNICEF in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), with funding from the European Union (EU).

The project aims to transform the lives of the most vulnerable across communities through access to quality healthcare, education and other social securities.

Ms Lafoucriere said that SUSI was designed to support government in the acceleration and expansion of social protection coverage.

She commended the state government for the remarkable steps taken, including the creation of a Social Protection Policy that provides a framework for implementing social protection in the state.

According to her, the step has also led to the creation of a Social Protection Coordination Department, a draft bill for social protection awaiting legislative action, and several ongoing social protection initiatives.

The UNICEF chief, however, noted strategic, operational, and technical challenges still exist, thereby limiting coverage for the most vulnerable – especially the children, women, the elderly, and people living with disabilities.

“In the current context, around 48.7 per cent of the entire population and 72.7 per cent of children (0-17 years) remain multi-dimensionally poor, with only 11 per cent captured in the social registry of the poor and vulnerable.

“With approximately two per cent of the Oyo state population receiving any form of social assistance, the urgency for improved investment in social protection is now.

“The project is not just about systems and structures; it is about enhancing Oyo state’s shock-responsiveness capabilities.

“It is about reinforcing policy frameworks and integrating financial mechanisms into state budgets and planning efforts in ways that are sustainable and scalable.

“We have confidence in what we can achieve together. UNICEF will continue to support Oyo state in building a social protection system that works for everyone,“ she said.

Also, the programme and social policy manager for UNICEF, Muhammad Okorie, said UNICEF, in collaboration with relevant government agencies in the state, had carried out an identification process for the poor and vulnerable in their households.

He added that the initiative had made them traceable and captured in the social register, enabling the next step of updating their details with national identity numbers and bank account information.

“We need to increase the number of households on the state social register. By the end of 2026, we expect that an additional 250,000 households will have been included.

“The essence of this is to make it easy to identify where vulnerable people are and target them with their needs.

“We are also looking at making sure that this register is also interoperable, where MDAs, government, and partners are able to access it to be able to reach those who need the services,” he said.

The Oyo State acting governor, Adebayo Lawal, while launching the project, said that the initiative would provide a modernised social protection management information system fully interoperable across relevant ministries, departments and agencies in the state.

He noted that collaboration with UNICEF, the EU and the ILO would bring about a comprehensive approach to reducing poverty in the state.

“With the continued support of the European Union and other development partners, we are confident that we will achieve greater progress in deepening social inclusion and building human resilience.

“All stakeholders, civil society organisations, the private sector, and all citizens must unite in advancing this noble course, “he said.

The acting governor urged all development partners to align with state government institutions and local communities to ensure the full and effective realisation of the initiative’s objectives.

(NAN)