House Committee Continues Edo Oversight, Inspects Facilities Serving Vulnerable Residents

By Rosemary Okoduwa

The House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development on Wednesday continued its assessment visit to Edo State with inspections of key social welfare and empowerment facilities, including the Edo State Crèche, the Ossiomo-Ogan Leprosarium, and the Edo State Skills Acquisition Centre, Evbomodu.

The visit is part of the Committee’s nationwide oversight exercise to evaluate programmes and interventions of the Office of the First Lady and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development aimed at improving the welfare of women, children, families, and other vulnerable groups.

The delegation, led by the Director/Clerk of the Committee, Hajia Aishatu Inusa, was accompanied by the Edo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Eugenia Abdallah, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Joy Ihensekhien, officials of the Office of the First Lady and directors and staff of the Ministry.

The team first visited the Edo State Crèche at the State Secretariat Complex, Benin City, where members inspected the facility and interacted with caregivers to assess the quality of childcare services.
At the Ossiomo-Ogan Leprosarium, the delegation interacted with residents and assessed the condition of the facility. The Senior Legislative Officer of the National Assembly, Mr. Benedict Chukwuma, and the Registrar of Family Affairs Consultancy Services (FACS), Mr. Farouq Umar, said the exercise was aimed at evaluating programmes and interventions of the Office of the First Lady and the Ministry, assuring residents that their concerns would be documented and presented to the appropriate authorities.

Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Eugenia Abdallah, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working with the Office of the First Lady to improve the welfare of residents, noting that Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo remains committed to ensuring that no Edo citizen is left behind in the state’s development. She added that the Ministry remains focused on implementing policies and programmes that enhance the well-being of women, children, families, and other vulnerable persons.

Also speaking, the Chief Protocol Officer in the Office of the First Lady and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Pastor Mrs. Mabel Obetoh, said many residents had acquired vocational skills but lacked the resources to establish businesses. She disclosed that the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, has adopted the leprosarium as one of her priority humanitarian projects and recently approved ₦1 million to support the residents’ medical needs.

Speaking on behalf of the residents, Mr. Ahmed Mohammed thanked the delegation for the visit, describing it as the first by a House of Representatives Committee to the community. The Ogan Community Secretary, Mr. Anthony Idugboe, and the Youth Leader, Mr. John Igbinovia, appealed for the renovation of dilapidated buildings, construction of a community town hall, rehabilitation of the access road, restoration of electricity, and the revival of the community secondary school.

The delegation also inspected the Edo State Skills Acquisition Centre, Evbomodu, where it toured the Catering, Fashion Design, Computer Studies, Hairdressing, and Cosmetology departments. Members commended the centre for providing free vocational and entrepreneurial training that equips beneficiaries with practical skills for self reliance and economic empowerment.

The assessment visit is part of the House Committee’s nationwide effort to evaluate the implementation and impact of programmes and projects designed to improve the lives of vulnerable groups across the country.