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 also the 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 Ehigimusoe.

He said that the provision of certain social infrastructure at rural areas would go a long way in addressing core challenges in the areas and promote development.

He said that his administration was currently working with UNICEF in the provision of water in every community in the state, adding that it would also collaborate with LAPO in the water project.

“We want to get water in every community in Edo, we want to achieve this within the next four to six years.

“We are working with UNICEF and I think we can also partner LAPO in this area considering the laudable programmes it has executed in rural communities.

He said that the water project would be community-Government-private assisted and would help in addressing health challenges in the communities.

He said that his administration would also partner LAPO in the areas of agriculture and Small and medium scale development in the state.

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 and to link them to source of production.

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.