The government of Osun state has entered into partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Norwegian government to strengthen security in the state.
The partnership, as a consequence, has seen all three actors inaugurate a Crisis Early Warning and Early Response System (CEWERS) and CEWERS Situation Room to further the cause.
In addition, the partnership has concluded the training and empowerment of 200 victims of violence across Osun state.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, where starter packs were distributed to the trained victims of violence, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola described the partnership as a big step towards attaining social stability and peace.
He said being a step in the right direction, the CEWERS Situation Room would help to nip crisis, violence and related matters in bud.
“Crisis Early Warning and Early Response Signal situation room is a welcome addition to our emergency 293 short code call system through which citizens report emergency cases. This system has helped in no small measure in controlling potential crisis situation and it has ultimately helped in coordinating and responding to diverse emergency needs.”
Oyetola, who expressed profound appreciation to UNDP and the Norwegian government for siting the project in Osun state, registered his belief that it would complement government’s efforts at securing lives and property.
He added that the partnership would help the state in its efforts at ensuring a peaceful atmosphere for lives to bloom and businesses to thrive.
“The aspirations and objectives of our development plan are aimed at achieving inclusive and sustainable economic growth with full and productive employment that ensures high standard of living for all residents of the State.
“Our government is also determined to achieve world-class infrastructure system that attracts investors, facilitates economic growth and supports the State’s priority needs.
“In the last three years, we have demonstrated unreserved commitment to these goals, deploying relevant strategies, and reaching out to critical stakeholders and Development Partners”, Oyetola said.
The Governor described the empowerment programme as a worthy addition to his administration’s resolve to empower women and youths and charged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the starter packs.
Building blocks of security
Earlier in his welcome remark, Osun state Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Professor Olalekan Yinusa, stated that the beneficiaries were carefully selected through the World Bank accredited social register which had the list of different categories of vulnerable citizens.
He added that the training and empowerment exercise covered 12 trades areas, including tailoring, hairdressing, bricklaying, electrical installations, welding and fabrication, carpentry and woodwork, plumbing, leather work and shoemaking, catering and decoration, soap making, computer and mobile phone repair.
The Norwegian Trade Councillor, Mr Hans Peter Christopherson, in his remark, described the programme as a crisis aversion and peace building mechanism, aimed at attacking problems from different angles.
“We are empowering victims of violence as a form of reintegration strategy, while also launching a system that helps address security issues, which is not a Nigerian problem but a world problem. We are glad that youths are critical beneficiaries of this programme”, he said.
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Matthew Alao, UNDP Governance, Peace and Security Team Lead, in describing the importance of the intervention said:
“The CEWERS will provide early warning signals that can be acted upon by the government to strengthen the State’s peace and security; while the empowerment of the 200 beneficiaries will build community resilience to violence and promote peaceful coexistence”.
Osun state Governor was represented at the event by his Deputy, Mr Benedict Alabi.
Emmanuel Ukoh
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