The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in partnership with the European Union (EU) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), launched the €13 million Supporting Sustainable Social Protection System in Nigeria (SUSI) project in Abia State on Wednesday. The initiative, set to run until 2027, aims to strengthen Nigeria’s social protection framework, expand safety nets, and reduce poverty among vulnerable households in four states, including Abia.
At the launch event in Umuahia, UNICEF’s Chief of Field Services, Judith Leveillee, emphasized the project’s goal of ensuring no family or child is left behind. “Social protection is not just a safety net; it’s a springboard for dignity, enabling children, mothers, the elderly, and people with disabilities to thrive and escape poverty,” she said.
EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, highlighted the project’s alignment with broader goals of resilience and inclusive growth. “This €13 million initiative, which began in 2024 and will continue until 2027, is implemented by UNICEF and ILO in collaboration with the federal government and four states, including Abia,” Mignot stated. He noted that social protection reduces inequality, supports vulnerable groups during crises, and complements EU priorities in education, health, gender equality, and economic development. Mignot also presented ICT equipment to integrate vulnerable households into the national social register and commended Abia State, which ranked eighth nationally for multidimensional poverty in 2022, for its commitment.
ILO Country Director Dr. Vanessa Phala-Moyo described social protection as a matter of dignity, not charity, aligning the project with Abia’s development roadmap and President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. “We are building bridges to connect people to opportunities and providing safety nets for those facing sickness or job loss,” she said.
Abia State Governor Alex Otti, who inaugurated the Abia State Social Protection Council during the event, pledged full support for the initiative. “The SUSI project will enhance our efforts to expand social safety nets and build on the progress made over the past 28 months,” Otti affirmed.
The SUSI initiative is poised to bolster Nigeria’s social protection system, offering hope and dignity to the nation’s most vulnerable populations.
