The National Social Investment Programme, NSIP Focal person in Akwa Ibom state, Dr. GODWIN AKPAN has set the ball rolling for the domestication of the programme in line with Federal Government’s directive.

He started with an inspection visit to Methodist central school Ette, Ikot Abasi, Special Education Center, Uyo and Bishop Clarks Primary school, Abak.

This was followed by a meeting with Stakeholders drawn from Ministry of Health, Ministry of education and the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, to deliberate on the policy validation in the state.

Dr. GODWIN AKPAN disclosed that the Federal Government has in a bid to sustain the programme beyond the current administration, created the National Social Investment Programme Agency.

All the participating states in the programme have been encouraged to create a full Ministry, Agency or a Bureau to allow for continuity and sustainability of the programme in line with the directive of the World Bank, which is a major partner in the programme.

In Akwa Ibom State, the National Social Investment Programme office was domiciled in the office the Governor but supervised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare.

To this end, the Akwa Ibom NSIP focal person explained that creation of the Bureau will enable the State to fully benefit from all Federal Government Social Security Programmes, which will address the issue of out of school children, enhance effectiveness, reduce fragmentation, and tailor the budget while allowing for complementarities among the different MDAs.

He added that the Bureau, when created will serve, complement and collaborate with the State in its determination to create jobs as well as afford the state first-hand information about the Programmes and policies of the New Agency and also allow for effective collaboration with the Federal Government.