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Tag: #Inyang Asibong

  • Social Safety Net: Cross River Emerges First State to Transit From YESSO To NASSCO In Nigeria

    Social Safety Net: Cross River Emerges First State to Transit From YESSO To NASSCO In Nigeria

     

    Cross River State has emerged the first state in Nigeria to successfully qualify and transit to National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) after the closure of Youth Employment and Social Support Operation ( YESSO) in the country.

    The state under *Governor Ben Ayade* had met all the required criteria and completed the full documentation and assessment by NASSCO, hence the commencement of the programme.

    Speaking during the take off of the program in Calabar, Governor Ben Ayade said that Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO) in Cross River State through the State Operation Coordination Unit(SOCU) has been touching lives in the last Seven years.

    “Cross River State intends to use the Social register to drive Human Capital Development and increase access to targeted transfers to poor and vulnerable households under an expanded state social safety net system

    Earlier in his speech, *Mr Apera Iorwa* , the National Coordinator of NASSCO assured the state Government of his cooperation in increasing and building the state social register of poor and vulnerable households within the stupulated record time.

    NASSCO is saddled with the responsibility of building the National Social Register and coordinating livelihood support to extremely poor & vulnerable households in Nigeria.

    “We are developing a social safety nets framework that will help the state in implementing its social protection policies inline with the new NASSCO guidelines and protocols.

    Also speaking, the Commissioner, Ministry of International DevelopmentCooperation, *Inyang Asibong* opined that ” His Excellency Senator Prof Ben Ayade has prioritized social protection (SP) interventions as a key strategy towards reducing poverty and socio-economic vulnerabilities in cross river state” Asibong added.

    “The Permanent Secretary *Mr Felix Ita* envisaged that about fifty four thousand (54,000) households, and almost two hundred and ninety nine thousand (299,000) persons were captured in the intervention projects and programes in all the eighteen local Government Areas”.

    The State Coordinator, State Operation Coordinating Office, *Mr. Chris Anake* while commending the Governor, reassured him of SOCU commitment on achieving the state deliverables.

    Highpoint of the event was the presentation of the Cross River YESSO seven- year programme exit report by the Commissioner, MIDC to the State Governor, Sen Prof Ben Ayade.

  • Gully Erosion: Our Lives, Properties Under Serious Thread – Hon. Solomon Ika Cries Out

    Gully Erosion: Our Lives, Properties Under Serious Thread – Hon. Solomon Ika Cries Out

    By Admin

    The Honourable Councillor representing Ward 9 in Calabar Municipality, Hon. (Elder) Solomon Etim Ika has called the attention of Calabar Municipal Council and Cross River State governments to the lost of lives and valuable properties due to a deep gully erosion at Stream Road (Usung Efag) Water Board in Ikot Effanga Mkpa Clan, Ward 9, Calabar that have remain unattended to for several years and calls for urgent intervention.

    He made this known in a MOTION OF URGENT PUBLIC INTEREST before the 6th Legislative Council on Friday 30th day of October, 2020 over the imminent thread to lives and properties occasioned by the severity of the deep gully erosion at Stream Road (Usung Efak) Water Board in Ikot Effanga Mkpa Clan Ward 9 and it’s environs which falls within his constituency.

    Hon. Ika went further to tender photographs taken during his ON THE SPOT ASSESSMENT TOUR on the affected areas showing the extent of damage done by the said erosion for the house perusal.

    The lawmaker fondly referred to as the “People’s Honourable” in his prayers, urged the house to;

    √ The Legislative House rise to visit the affected areas for more clarity and insights on the matter;

    √ The Executive Chairman should as a matter of urgent public importance write a “Safe Our Soul (SOS) letter to draw the attention of our Humane / Passionate GOVERNOR, His Excellency Prof Ben Ayade to come to the rescue of the people of that area.

    The Leader thanked all the Honourable Members for their contributions and immediately set up an urgent Ad-hoc Committee, headed by the sponsor of the motion, Hon. Solomon Ika, to handle the matter. He asked the committee to visit the affected areas immediately after plenary and report same in the next legislative sitting.

    Hon. Solomon Ika used the opportunity to thank the Governor of Cross River State Senator Prof Ben Ayade for the ongoing works at the Ikot Nkebre area gully erosion sites, saying the intervention was quite commendable and sustainable.

     

  • Micro Projects: CSDA Intervenes In 350 Communities Of Cross River State

    Micro Projects: CSDA Intervenes In 350 Communities Of Cross River State

    No fewer than 350 Communities across the 18 Local Government Areas of Cross River state have benefitted from the State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) Projects.

    The Cross River State Government, World Bank Assisted project is a Community Driven Development (CDD) and intervention mechanism designed for improving empowerment, service delivery and local governance through empowerment of people in the local communities.

    Speaking during a post completion and Project sustainability workshop organised by the Agency in Calabar, the Commissioner for International Development Corporation, Dr Inyang Asibong said that over 900 community projects in all the 18 local government areas have been executed.

    According to Asibong, the Agency has empowered more citizens at the local government levels, with improved service delivery, accountability, transparency and effective communication in the last five years of Governor Ben Ayade’s administration more than ever.

    The commissioner while encouraging the beneficiaries to sustain the assets created in their various communities, warned that Government will not provide further support to any community who fails to maintain and sustain previous projects in their domain, including health centres, boreholes and classroom blocks.

    The Board Chairman of the Agency, Sir Toni Ikpeme commended the communities for implementing thier projects according to standards and specifications. He encouraged them to apply community level strategies to maintain and sustain the assets.

    Also Speaking at the event, the Acting General Manager of the Agency, Mr Fidel Udie commended Governor Ayade for funding the Agency to provide support to Communities especially in the height of the COVID 19 pandemic.

    The workshop had relevant line MDAs in attendance, with beneficiaries from several communities where issues of home grown sustainability strategies were discussed, such that benefits can be guaranteed over a long period.

  • Nigeria at 60: Inyang Asibong Joins Sports Commissioner To Celebrate Para- Soccer Team In Calabar

    Nigeria at 60: Inyang Asibong Joins Sports Commissioner To Celebrate Para- Soccer Team In Calabar

    By Admin

    To give back to humanity and in support of the physically challenged persons on Independence Day, the Cross River State Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Dr Inyang Asibong joined her counterpart from the Ministry of Sports and Cinematography, Chief Offu Aya to flag off the the 2020 Para-soccer novelty Match.

    The event was put together by the Paradise Para-soccer Team in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and Ministry of International Development Cooperation, held at Botanical park field Calabar.

    The program tagged, “match for the vulnerable” according to Dr. Inyang Asibong, was a novelty tournament to celebrate the “unity in diversity of Nigeria and indivisibility of our country starting from Cross River”

    Asibong maintained that “I am happy that the Ministry of Sports has assured them of their participation at National and International competitions, and as a Ministry with Global presence, we are going to partner and support them.

    “Governor Ben Ayade is particularly interested in the vulnerable whom despite their challenges, have the resilience to do something noble that can bring Cross River and Nigeria to International focus”

    The Event was attended by the Commissioner for Sports and Cinematography as well as other top government functionaries.

  • UN Food And Agriculture Organization Partners C’River To Build MDAs Capacity On Agrotech

    UN Food And Agriculture Organization Partners C’River To Build MDAs Capacity On Agrotech

    By Admin

    The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (UNFAO) and Cross River State Government have agreed to partner on some Agricultural and ICT training for staff of key Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the State.

    The partnership was the outcome of the meeting by the Commissioner, Ministry of International Development Cooperation, MIDC and the Lead Advisor to the Governor on Green Money, Amb. Nkoyo Toyo with the UN FAO Rep, Mr Suffyan Koroma at the UN Country Office in Abuja.

    The Programme which will be coordinated by the Ministry of International Development Cooperation (MIDC) will build capacity of staff of some key clusters of the state on agrotechnology and info-business in line with the Cross River State Government efforts towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

    Speaking during a follow up visit to the UN team to broker the Partnership arrangement, the Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Dr Inyang Asibong, averred that the State Government’s Core Policy under Ayade’s administration is on Modern Agricultural Production, Distribution and it’s value chain markets as well Industrialization.

    Asibong explained that the state has keyed into the Federal Government’s initiative on Food security and Agricultural revolution to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and maintained that building the capacity of key MDAs and investing in innovative technology will guarantee food sufficiency not only to Cross River but Nigeria in general.

    “I thank the Technical Team for partnering with Cross River which is one of the three States in Nigeria to benefit from the UN capacity building on modern ICT with Kano and Lagos as two other beneficiaries” she added.

    Speaking earlier during the visit, the UNFAO technical team leader, Mr Dare Olurunmole who is also a project Desk Officer at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said the visit was to identify the ICT needs of the Agricultural lines of Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs). The beneficial MDAS include Ministry of Agriculture, FADAMA, SPC, SBS, ADP among others with MIDC as coordinating ministry.

    Mr Olorunmole thanked the Cross River State Government as one of the leading states setting the standard in achieving better quality of Agricultural Produce ,with adequate available data in support of the Sustainable development Goals.

  • Excitement As Gov. Ayade Commissions Modor And Odaghe Vulnerable Centres In Obubra

    Excitement As Gov. Ayade Commissions Modor And Odaghe Vulnerable Centres In Obubra

    George Odok Jr.

    Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River State has commissioned two skills acquisition centres for the Modor vulnerable group in Apiapum and Odaghe vulnerable group in Ofodua communities in Obubra local government area, including culverts.

    The Governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Dr Inyang Asibong, said the projects were funded through the Cross River State Community and Social Development Agency, a World Bank Assisted partnership programme with the state government.

    She explained that the projects were supported with a view to give the vulnerable groups a sense of belonging by improving their livelihoods.

    The skill acquisition programmes include a viewing centre, photo studio, catering school and a computer centre.

    The Acting General Manager of Cross River State Community and Social Development Agency, Mr Fidel Udie, commended the community for providing their counterpart contribution for the successful completion of the project.

    Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Hon. Livinus Okpa, popularly called “Incumbent”, said the Ayade led government has given the disabled the opportunity to contribute to the development of their communities and the state at large.

    Mr Toni Ikpeme, the Board Chairman of Cross River State Community and Social Development Agency, charged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the projects to enhance their overall wellbeing.

  • C’River And NEWMAP Strategize to Sustain Land Management And Improve Erosion Control 

    C’River And NEWMAP Strategize to Sustain Land Management And Improve Erosion Control 

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    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    The Cross River State Government says it will continue to provide access to developmental programmes for youth and women, as well as create opportunities for sustainable growth for the citizens in line with the visions of His Excellency, Sen. (Prof.) Ben Ayade.

    The Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Dr. Inyang Asibong, gave the reassurances during a working visit to the Abuja Headquarters of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).

    Asibong said the visit was to cement the already established relationship between the State and NEWMAP to improve livelihood and sustain land management and Erosion Control across the State.

    The Commissioner who doubles as the Chairman of the State Steering Committee for NEWMAP, expressed confidence on the outcome of the meeting as the State is working assiduously towards reducing poverty, unemployment and environmental related hazards.

    Asibong said the Governor Ayade-led administration in has set up several Community Intervention Groups (CIGs) across its 18 local Government Areas with many registered Community Associations by the government coupled with a designed Community Action Plan for funding.

    According to Asibong, “Erosion-prone communities across Cross River State have been identified and strengthened, behavioral change campaign on proper disposal of waste have also been conducted and the key takeaway of the exercise is the resolution of improved community hygiene.

    “This success story in Cross River State has been applauded by the management of NEWMAP which we have promised to improve upon in the years ahead” she added.

     

    The Project Coordinator of NEWMAP in the State, Dr. Fidelis Anukwa, who accompanied the Commissioner on the visit, said NEWMAP interventions such as behavior change campaign, erosion control and gully improvement, waste management and sub-grant administration has seen communities like Atakpa, Edim Otop, Nyagasang, Ikot Ekpo, Ikot Anwatim, Kasuk, Ikot Ishie, Ikot Abasi Obori, Ikot Ansa and Ikot Nkebre in Calabar South and Calabar Municipality benefiting, amongst others.

  • Fiscal Responsibility Commission partners Ministry of International Development Cooperation on Public Financial Management

    Fiscal Responsibility Commission partners Ministry of International Development Cooperation on Public Financial Management

    By George Odok Jr

    The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) has visited the Ministry of International Development Cooperation to strengthen its partnership and collaboration on the role of the FRC Law as regards Public Financial Management and to assist in the execution of the law across the MDAs in the state.

    The delegation on the visit was led by the Chairman of FRC in Cross River State, Hon. Moses Oko.

    Speaking on the law, Mr. Otu, Otu-Ita, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Fiscal Responsibility Commission, stated that the law has four terminal guidelines as follows:

    Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEFW) which is a 3 year pan where the annual budget is derived. In relation to the budget, the law specifies that the budget preparation must meet the timelines of 30th September, 2020.
    The 3rd aspect of the law is on issues of borrowing. this will guide the state on setting a borrowing ceiling to enable state not to over shoot its borrowing limit, while the 4th is on how all the public finances are expended.

    Mr. Otu-Ita said that, there is a need to institutionalize the Fiscal Responsibility Law in the state as this, will not only help in the transparency and accountability of public financial management, but could also help in the relief of the state debt profile.

    He also added that the Fiscal Responsibility Commission at the federal level could provide technical support to MDAs and back users of the State Integrated Financial Management Information System (SIFMIS).

    In her response, the Commissioner, Dr. Mrs. Inyang Asibong intimated the SSA that the state was already implementing SIFMIS and that the 18 LGAs are currently being trained on SIFMIS under the State and Local Governance Reform Project.

  • Cross River Govt Commences Needs Assessment Survey On Erosion Prone Communities

    Cross River Govt Commences Needs Assessment Survey On Erosion Prone Communities

    By Admin

    The Cross River State Government has begun the Needs Assessment Survey on erosion prone communities across the eighteen Local Government Areas of the state in a bid to address the menace of the State’s Erosion Crisis.

    Speaking at various sites during an inspection of the survey on erosion prone communities across the state, the Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Dr Inyang Asibong said the efforts was to reduce Erosion-induced challenges in Cross River State.

    Accompanied by the Project Supervisor, Cross River State Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (CRS- NEWMAP)Mr Fidelis Anukwa, Asibong opined that the renewed efforts approved by Governor Ben Ayade was aimed at remediate works at the erosion sites in most part of the state as the rainy season begins.

    The Commissioner said the asessment will be followed with the job implementation with key emphasis on engaging the local Communities with skilled, semi- skilled and unskilled labour as part of Professor Ben Ayade’s “Opportunity for All” Policy.

    “We have been to Bekwarra, Ogoja, Boki, Ikom, Odukpani, Akpabuyo, and Bakassi Local Government Areas in this phase, to mark areas where we would either construct or renovate bridges and flood drains to ensure that the intensity of this year’s rainfall does not affect the settlers in these areas”, she added.

    The CRS-NEWMAP Project Supervisor, Mr Fidelis Anukwa explained on the State Government’s readiness to commence work once the needs assessment survey is completed across the State.

    The main objective of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) is to reduce vulnerability to soil erosion in targeted sub-catchments, and to ensure communities enjoy the benefits of the interventions.

  • CRS-CSDA HOLDS BOARD AND MANAGEMENT RETREAT: SENSITIZE NEW BOARD ON ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

    CRS-CSDA HOLDS BOARD AND MANAGEMENT RETREAT: SENSITIZE NEW BOARD ON ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    Cross River State Community and Social Development Agency has organized a 3 day retreat for its newly inaugurated Board.

    The retreat which provided a first leg sensitization of the new board members on the operations of the Agency was declared open by the Hon. Commissioner for MIDC, Dr Inyang Asibong on behalf of the digital Gov. His Excellency, Sir Ben Ayade. Speaking at the event, Dr Asibong charged the new Board to sustain the gains recorded by the Agency noting that the CSDP as a project is “government best foot forward” so far as development project in partnership with donors was concern.

    The attendance of the National Coordinator of the CSDP, Dr Abdulkarim Obaje who as ably represented by the immediate past General Manager of the Agency, Pastor Victor Ovat broaden the Boards opportunities to get deeper understanding about their roles and responsibilities. In this regard, Pst. Ovat made a presentation that sensitized participants on their specific roles and responsibilities as stipulated in the law guiding the operations of the Agency.

    Speaking earlier, the Ag. General Manager of the Agency Mr Fidel Udie noted that the retreat became imperative following the need to sensitise the new Board and bring them up to speed with development in the Agency especially as regard processes, achievements and emerging challenges.

    The Board chairman Mr Toni Ikpeme who was visibly happy with the content development of the entire exercise noted on behalf of the new board that the “Board is a reinvigorated board with determination and commitment to sustain the gains recorded in the past”. He thanked the Gov, His Excellency Sir Ben Ayade for their appointment and further noted that the retreat has broaden their understanding of the operations of the Agency, promising a cordial working relationship with Management with the view of sustaining the gains of the Project for the state.

    The highly engaging retreat had in attendance the 17 Board members comprising Permanent Secretaries from line Ministries and Civil Society Orgainization and the Project Management Committee of the Agency.