Enugu State Government has disclosed its desire to collaborate with members of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State.
The Deputy Governor, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo, made the disclosure in Enugu while responding to the request made by members of the association, who paid her courtesy in her office.
The Deputy Governor said that the visit was apt.
Her words, “For this courtesy call, which could not have come at a better time than now that the government like other state governments in Nigeria is battling with a number of issues including but not limited to the Coronavirus pandemic, the immediate aftermaths of the recent #EndSARS protest and it’s unfortunate hijack by miscreants, a serious economic recession and spiralling inflation that is almost threatening to squeeze life out of people, especially the vulnerable that are facing exorbitant food prices, food scarcity and even starvation.
“As you may be already aware , this administration has since inception in May, 2015 been implementing an 8-point agenda., focusing on security, infrastructural and human capital development, employment generation and youth and women empowerment, financial and good governance sustainability and food production and agriculture ”
Ezeilo said that their “administration has been investing substantially in that area of security through active peace -building, active support to and synergy with all the security agencies based in the State.
“Also the introduction of various forms of community policing such as local vigilante, neighbourhood watch groups and Forest guards with security mandates over our bushes and wasteland areas. No wonder our governor was given a peace award NY an international organisation.
“Government has also embarked on aggressive road construction and maintenance in all parts of the State. As of today, all the 17 local government areas are linked to the State capital and to themselves through networks of good roads, many of which were either newly constructed or upgraded within the last six years. There is also an elaborate program on the opening, upgrade and maintenance of our rural roads in view of the roles they play in both our agriculture and food production sector and the maintenance of security.
“Human Capital development employment generation and youth and women empowerment are being addressed through the upgrade, equipment and refocusing of our public educational institutions as well as the establishment of the skill acquisition centres and giving support to our Small and Medium Scale Enterprises ” to successfully handle it’s mandate.
Earlier, the president of the Alumni Association of the National Institute, IGP Mohammad Abubakar (rtd) said that they were in Enugu to inaugurate the Executive Council of the Enugu/Ebonyi chapter of the association, adding that they came on the courtesy visit to pay their respect to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and to see for themselves some of his projects.
” We are here to discuss areas of collaboration between AANI and the Enugu State government. Our Alma Mater, the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies has over 1,523 researched policy papers and recommendations with implementations strategies on all issues of national building.
” We the Alumni Association are ready and able to undertake further research work in all areas that will be required of us by the Enugu State government.
“The Associations is, therefore, making available to Your Excellency it’s vast research output and highly trained manpower in order to assist you consolidate on your achievements, Abubakar said.
