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, Ossiomo-Ogan Leprosarium and the Edo State Skills Acquisition Centre, Evbomodu, all aimed at evaluating programmes and interventions for women, children 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 of the Ministry, Mrs. Joy Ihensekhien; officials from the Office of the First Lady; directors and staff of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
The team first visited the Edo State Crèche located within the State Secretariat Complex along Sapele Road, Benin City, where they inspected the facility and interacted with caregivers. The visit provided the committee with the opportunity to assess the quality of childcare services and the environment provided for children in the state’s care.
The delegation thereafter proceeded to the Ossiomo-Ogan Leprosarium, where members engaged with residents and assessed the condition of the facility as part of the Committee’s mandate to evaluate projects and initiatives targeted at women, children, girls, families and other vulnerable persons.
Addressing the residents, the Senior Legislative Officer of the National Assembly, Mr. Benedict Chukwuma, and the Registrar of Family Affairs Consultancy Services (FACS), Mr. Farouq Umar, explained that the assessment visit was designed to evaluate programmes and interventions of the Office of the First Lady and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. They assured the residents that the concerns raised during the visit would be adequately documented and presented to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.
Speaking during the visit, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Eugenia Abdallah, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to partnering with the Office of the First Lady to provide sustained support for the residents of the leprosarium. She noted that Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo remains committed to the welfare of every Edo citizen, assuring the residents that they would not be left out of the state’s developmental agenda.
According to the Commissioner, the Ministry remains dedicated to promoting the welfare of women, girls, children, families and other vulnerable persons through policies and programmes that improve their quality of life.
Also speaking, the Chief Protocol Officer in the Office of the First Lady and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Pastor Mrs. Mabel Obetoh, informed the delegation that many residents of the leprosarium had acquired various vocational skills but lacked the financial resources to establish sustainable 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, making regular visits to the community and providing continuous support. She added that the Office of the First Lady recently released the sum of ₦1 million to support the residents’ medical needs.
Earlier, speaking on behalf of the residents, Mr. Ahmed Mohammed expressed appreciation to the delegation for the visit, describing it as the first time a House of Representatives Committee had visited the community. Also speaking, the Ogan Community Secretary, Mr. Anthony Idugboe, and the Youth Leader, Mr. John Igbinovia, thanked the delegation for identifying with the community.
The community leaders appealed for government intervention in the renovation of dilapidated residential buildings, construction of a community town hall, rehabilitation of the access road, restoration of electricity which has bee
