The Cross River State YESSO – Public Workfare Unit in compliance with basic requirement for the engagement of beneficiaries for the YESSO World Bank intervention has commenced the Validation, Biometric Data Capturing and Orientation of beneficiaries starting with Calabar Municipality.
The exercise which took place at the Legislative Chambers of the Calabar Municipality Local Government Council, started with the validation of beneficiaries was to ascertain those qualifies to be cleared and enrolled as potential beneficiaries of the Project.
Addressing beneficiaries, the PWF Unit head, Mr. Ignatius Ojen stated that the project is aimed at giving a sense of belonging to the poor and vulnerable and ensuring they are meeting their basic needs. He encouraged them to fully utilize the programme and every facet of it to change their focus in life, adding that the project is not just to pay them stipends but to ensure that they learn life skills that would serve them even after the project elapses.
Mr. Ojen who appreciated the World Bank and the Government of Cross River State for making the project a reality, explained the rights and responsibilities of the beneficiaries to them encouraged them to inculcate the habit of saving from the little stipend to be paid to them so that at the end of the the project, they will have the capital to start a viable trade for income generation to sustain their respective families, stating that it would be an aberration for them to go through one year of receiving stipends and life skills training and at the end return back to their previous State.
Declaring the Validation and Orientation exercise open, the Cross River State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Comrade Asu Okang expressed delight at the actualization of the intervention project which he said would leave the people better equipped to be productive at its expiration, explaining that the entire process is to give the poor and vulnerable a place in the society. In his words looking at your faces today, I feel joyed and fulfilled that a journey that started more than three years ago has become successful and about to yield results. “
Comrade Okang posited that the admnistration of Governor Ben Ayade does not pay lip service to youth development and involvement hence the release of the counterpart funding to the tune of 45 million naira for the project to engage 5000 youths in public workfare by YESSO, assuring that by the end of 2018, there would be an additional 5000 youths to the project to make a total 10,000 YESSO-PWF beneficiaries.
Encouraging the beneficiaries to be dutiful in whatever public workfare they are engaged in.
Comrade Okang informed the beneficiaries that modalities are being put in place to give them the liberty of choosing a most convenient time of the day for them to carryout their duties, adding that this is to avail nursing mothers the opportunity to cater properly for their children while students attend classes without disruptions. He urged them not to see the intervention as free money but to put in their best and ensure that they become self reliant at the end of the project.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Mrs. Ninka Takon appreciated the youth friendly Governor, Senator (Prof) Ben Ayade for the release of the counterpart funding that has ensured the implementation of the intervention project by World Bank. She encouraged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the project and improve themselves in different skills acquisition and make a difference in their communities.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Community Focal Person for Ikot Effanga, Ben Otu Eong appreciated the gesture of the the Governor in releasing the counterpart funding as well as Ensuring that for the first time, a youth is heading the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development. He also pledged the readiness of beneficiaries to adapt by the principles guiding the project and ensure maximal utilization of all aspect of the YESSO-PWF intervention project.
