Save the Children Nigeria has established a synergy with Journalists Against Poverty (JAP) Initiative towards increasing media support for social protection policies in Nigeria.
Save the children disclosed this intent today, in a brief meeting with key stakeholders in social protection sector led by Saheed Mustapha, Save the Children, Programme Officer.
Mustapha while speaking at the meeting on the role of media said, “There is need to amplify the sustainability of Social protection, in a way that good intentions are being amplified in a non violence way”.
He said it is noteworthy that successive governments had in past initiated few social protection policies, with no sustainable plans to back them, hence it has become imperative to keep advocating sustainable social protection in Nigeria.
According to him, “there is what is called Child Development Grant Program, (CCGP) as one of the Social Protection, is aimed at creating sustainable programme for child development by making cash transfer of N4,000 to pregnant women in rural and selected areas in Zamfara state”.
He added that through the synergy with JAP, the implementation of CCGP would be made easy leveraging the media Strength and support of JAP in creating more awareness for service delivery and cash transfer as well as strengthening the works of Save The Children in four state Kano, jigawa, zamfara and Kaduna.
In his contribution, National Coordinator Journalist Against Poverty Initiative, Wale Elekokusi, assured the organization of JAPi’s commitment to continue to support advocacy for social protection policy and works in all capacities.
“As a development driven organization, we shall continue to provide media support in driving the advocacy for social protection at all times” said Elekolusi
He said the main purpose of social protection is to reduce poverty, economic shocks and vulnerability, which in turn, helps to determine the country-specific social protection design requirements.
He further noted that JAPi has a viable platforms to disseminate compelling reports that would translate into rapid development.