Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba said charitable organisations are vital partners that would help to accelerate President Muhammadu Buhahi’s determination to take 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years.
The minister stated this in his goodwill message at the 5th Graduation Ceremony/6th Matriculation/9th anniversary of the Centre for Edo Delta Development Initiative (CEDDI) on Saturday, (16th January, 2021) in Benin City, Edo State.
Represented on the occasion by his Special Assistant (Administration) Dr Phillip Ugbodaga, the minister said charitable organisations could intervene in personal empowerment and training, fighting poverty, combating social diseases such as drug abuse, and attempting to narrow the deep divide between the rich and poor.
Agba stated that charitable and volunteer work was also a safety valve and supporting pillar for a country’s security due to “the preventive roles it plays in engaging the youths meaningfully in poverty-alleviation initiatives.”
He commended the role CEDDI has also been playing over the years in the counseling and treatment for people with diabetes.
“As you may be aware, diabetes is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality with associated enormous burden and cost of care, which requires a multi-pronged approach to its care to improve community awareness and health literacy programmes.
“There is the further need for more collaboration between the Government and all NGOs operating in Nigeria so as to organise our people, create awareness in them and make them development-oriented and problem solvers.
“Because of the complementary roles community service and volunteerism play in national development, it should be possible for our students to complete a certain number of hours in community service before graduation from secondary school or the university.
“These activities must be an integral part of our culture and should be included in the educational curricula at all levels of education in Nigeria,” Agba said.
The minister appreciated the General Grand Beacon of the Centre for Edo Delta Development Initiative, Chief Sam Igbe (the Iyase of Benin Kingdom) for the invitation to be part of the event.
The Centre for Edo Delta Development Initiative, (CEDDI) has since 2015 trained and empowered several hundreds of beneficiaries in various vocational skills and has thereby become a great contributor to national development.
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