Bayelsa-Cares: Impacting Lives in Bayelsa State
Ibifuro Okah writes Bayelsa-Cares: Impacting Lives in Bayelsa State sharing the success stories of the agency.
William Shakespeare, an English poet once said, “To be of service is to be at peace.”
This underscores the idea that true fulfillment and tranquility come from helping others to a more harmonious society and aligns closely with the Bayelsa-CARES program.
Bayelsa-CARES rural empowerment intervention program was launched in response to the hardships caused by the 2019 global COVID-19 pandemic that significantly disrupted economies worldwide, affecting the livelihoods of vulnerable populations and essential services.
Nigeria and Bayelsa State were no exceptions, facing social unrest and economic challenges, that’s why the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) was developed in collaboration with the Federal Government to mitigate these impacts, focusing on the needs of poor individuals, farmers, vulnerable households, and micro and small enterprises.
Under the guidance of the Bayelsa State governor, His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, the Prosperity Administration has dedicated substantial resources and personal attention to ensure the program’s success in reaching rural communities, targeting farmers, owners of tailoring shops, restaurants, provision stores, water production companies, Point of Sales Business, cleaning and fumigation business, market women, amongst others.
Giving a breakdown and success of the programme, Bayelsa State Focal Person, Mr Timipre Seipuluo, said since its launch in January 2022, with an annual budget of $20 million over two years, Bayelsa-CARES has disbursed approximately N13.8 billion to 466,732 direct beneficiaries across eight selected areas, with over one million people benefiting indirectly.
With the dedication of the Prosperity led Administration, Bayelsa-CARES was built and structured around three main Result Areas (RAs): Social Protection, managed by the Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA); Agriculture, led by FADAMA; and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), administered by the Bayelsa State Micro Enterprise Development Agency (BYMEDA).
Each platform is divided into smaller components for effective administration, including social transfers, labor and public works, livelihood grants, and basic services.
In terms of social transfers program, over 10,000 individuals, including the elderly and disabled, receive N10,000 monthly.
Also, the labour and public works initiative supports 3,289 unemployed youths across 165 communities, who are paid N15,000 monthly.
Additionally, 3,301 beneficiaries in 330 communities receive livelihood grants ranging from N70,000 to N100,000.
Likewise, the basic services program includes 440 community development projects in 220 communities, encompassing school buildings and health centers, with costs ranging from N15 million to N22 million per project.
Notably, Governor Diri being particular about construction of roads in riverine communities, as a form to boost the internal road network, has constructed roads in various communities, with N480 million allocated to complete 18 roads, enhancing connectivity in riverine areas, using this initiative.
Furthermore, health centers have been renovated and equipped, and solar-powered boreholes have been installed in select communities.
In terms of agricultural support, 8,200 farmers have received high-yield seeds and fertilizers through the input’s services, while an additional 6,300 farmers have gained access to farm tools and processing equipment like cassava processing factory, mini tractors, mini soil tilers, and tricycles through the assets services, in which about 145 communities were covered in the state.
Also, the Wet Market, Solar Powered and Water Reticulated Toilets scheme were provided to promote hygiene and safe environment in the market and public places to further eliminate open defecation as preached by the UNICEF, with full functional and completion of 97 Wet market facilities situated in market places and other public places across the state, and cost between N7 million and N15 million.
As part of the deliberate effort of the current Prosperity Administration to support and boost businesses of the people in Bayelsa, the Bayelsa-CARES introduced a business platform to achieve this plan.
The Bayelsa State Micro Enterprise Development Agency (BYMEDA) was engaged as the driver agency to identify small business owners who require financial support to expand and grow their businesses.
Through operational grants, 15,455 beneficiaries have received financial support ranging from N50,000 to N500,000 to grow their businesses, with ongoing monitoring to ensure sustainability.
For proper management and implementation of the programme, all activities are properly documented and reported regularly to be reviewed and confirmed by independent third parties engaged with the World Bank.
Conclusively, given the program’s successes, Governor Diri has approved an extension until December 2024, with plans for a Phase 2 launch in January 2025.
The Bayelsa-CARES program stands as a testament to the Bayelsa State Government’s Prosperity Administration’s commitment to uplifting rural communities and supporting sustainable development in Bayelsa State.
Ibifuro Okah, wrote this article titled Bayelsa-Cares: Impacting Lives in Bayelsa State to share the success stories of the agency.
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