Text of the Keynote Address by His Excellency Dr. Kayode Fayemi, CON Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria on the occasion of the FLAG-OFF CEREMONY OF THE SPECIAL GRANT TRANSFER TO THE ELDERLY (OWO ARUGBO) AND PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED at Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, Ado Ekiti Wednesday, October 16, 2019

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Text of the Keynote Address by
His Excellency
Dr. Kayode Fayemi, CON
Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria
on the occasion of the
FLAG-OFF CEREMONY OF THE SPECIAL GRANT TRANSFER TO THE
ELDERLY (OWO ARUGBO) AND PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED
at
Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, Ado Ekiti
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Protocols
1. I am delighted to be here today to once again flag off the payment
of Special Grant to our Elderly Citizens. Ekiti Kete and indeed the
entire world are witnesses of our passion and commitment to Social
Security.
2. It will be recalled that this programme was first launched in
October 2011 during my first term in office. In the three years it
operated, about 20,000 elderly and indigent citizens of Ekiti
benefited from the scheme. While it lasted, testimonies abound to
the succour and relief it brought to the elderly while the impact of
the monthly injection of about 100 million Naira to our largely rural
economy cannot be over emphasized.

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3. Unfortunately, at our departure five years ago, the programme was
jettisoned and the beneficiaries were returned to the unfortunate life
poverty, suffering and neglect.
4. Ladies and gentlemen, on this same ground, exactly a year ago, I
stated that my mission is to make Ekiti, among other things, a place
where the cycle of generational poverty can be broken, and in which
our elderly can live a more decent life, reap the fruits of their labour
. . . and are safe, healthy and prosperous. I said further that we
remain committed to re-instituting social safety nets that would
bring succour to the most vulnerable segments of our society. One
example of such safety nets is the Social Security for the elderly,
which I am pleased to say will be revived shortly. I shouted it loud
and clear to all and sundry that “help is on the way. Eyin iya mi,
eyin baba mi, Owo Arugbo n padabo laipe laijina” and Ekitikete
received the news with jubilation.
5. As we mark our first anniversary today, I am glad to announce
the fulfilment of that promise. You will all recall that when we
started the programme, it was the first of its kind in sub-Sahara
Africa. It attracted criticisms and commendations alike. I am glad
that many, including the Federal Government have taken a cue from
us in the realization that Social Security for the vulnerable segment
of our population is the way to go. It is on that premise to cater for
our people that made Social Investments to be one of our 5-Points
Agenda.

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6. In order to expand and make the scheme better than it was
during the first term, we are now in partnership with the World
Bank in carrying out this laudable programme. Though, our
partnership with the World Bank on the social investment project
dated back to our First Term in Office when we commenced the
Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO).
Through YESSO, a Single Register of Poor and Vulnerable
Households was created from a survey of communities across the
16 LGAs using internationally accepted standards of poverty
indices.
7. As I did assure Ekitikete that our government is for everybody
and is determined to remain all inclusive, let me restate here that,
the selection process had nothing to do with partisan politics. We
are all aware that hunger does not know political boundary lines.
8. From the register, a total of 13,813 elderly citizens and physically
challenged adults who are eighteen years and above, representing
the first batch, have been selected as beneficiaries of the grant. Each
beneficiary will receive a quarterly grant of N20,000.00 for every
three months and payments will be through their bank account. We
will however not stop at effecting and ensuring payment. We will
follow up on these indigent citizens with other welfare schemes and
monitor the use of the funds to ensure productivity and maximum
impact on the beneficiaries.

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9. I want to specially commend the World Bank and other
Development Partners for their efforts in joining hands with us to
take Ekiti to the place of our dreams.
10. Ekiti-kete, I am grateful to God and I also appreciate your support
this last one year. We are just starting. Our goal is to make Ekiti a
place where poverty is history. Current statistics put poverty indices
in the State at 56%; our vision is to reduce this to less than 20% by
2020. With God on our side and with your support, this we shall do.
11. On this note, I now have the honour to flag off the special grant
transfer, with the symbolic distribution of cheques, to the elderly
and physically challenged in Ekiti State to the glory of God and for
the benefit of mankind.
12. Thank you and God bless.
Dr. Kayode Fayemi, CON
Governor