By Adekola Afolabi

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Ondo State Government has bagged an excellent  award as the Best State in the South and third Best Performing State in Nigeria on NG-CARES Programme.

NG-CARES is a Federal Government initiative to expand access to livelihood support that provides food security services and grants for poor and vulnerable households to cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic. The programme is being implemented by the States.

The award was presented to the State Government on Wednesday at the World Bank and Federal CARES Interactive Support Mission in preparation for the forthcoming second IVA visit to the State, held at the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Speaking at the formal presentation of the award to the State Government, the Chairman, Federal CARES Technical Committee (FCTC), Rev Aso Vakporaye, specifically lauded the state government for setting the pace for others to follow.

He described the NG-CARES Programme in the state under Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, as a huge success and commendable.

“So, together we are kicking poverty out of the shores of Nigeria. We are coming back to Ondo State to kick start the second leg and we will win”, Rev.  Vakporaye added.

Receiving the award on behalf of the State Government, the Chairman of the State Steering Committee and Ondo State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan, He lauded the Federal Government for recognizing the state’s outstanding performance and achievements in the NG-CARES programme, promising that the state under Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu will do more to lift more people out of poverty.

The Commissioner who was full of joy that the state came first in the Southern part and third in the entire country, said the  award is a testament to the outstanding performance in the implementation of the NG-CARES.

“The proper implementation for NG-CARES is that the $20m is a pool of fund available for all states. It is only earmarked for each state of the federation to access when you show your results. it is warehoused at the Central Bank of Nigeria, not coming to the State directly, but there are different guidelines and eligible criteria that are associated with it”, Igbasan said.

Also, the World Bank Task Team leader, Prof Foluso Okunmadewa, applauded the performance of the state in all the programmes in the state, encouraging the government to do more.

The National Coordinator, NG-CARES  Programme, Abdulkarim Obaje,  said more technical support will be provided for the implementing agencies of the NG-CARES in the State.

“We have also used this opportunity to congratulate Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for the wonderful performance during the first round of IVA assessment which was done in January 2023 on the basis of which all the states in the federation were reimbursed, and Ondo State came first in the South  and third in the entire federation.

“The state implementing agencies are being given guidance and preparing them for the second round of IVA which comes up between 3rd and 7th of July, 2023.

Also present at the event are the State Accountant General, Mrs Toyin Oni, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Bayo Philip and other top government functionaries.