By Our Correspondent
The Kano State Social Protection Agency (KASPA) has embarked on a two-day learning visit to the Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget to gain practical insights into the state’s digital, coordinated and data-driven social protection system.
The visit, led by the Director-General of KASPA, Hajia Fateema Abubakar Abdullahi (Amneef), is aimed at identifying practical approaches that could be adapted to strengthen social protection interventions in Kano State.
The engagement focused on Lagos State’s institutional arrangements, financing mechanisms, digital systems, data management and approaches to the implementation of social protection programmes.
Welcoming the Kano delegation, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs Olayinka Ojo, identified social inclusion and social security, skills development, and job creation as key components of Lagos State’s social protection approach.
Speaking during the engagement, the Director of Social Protection, Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Yusuf Samiu O., said the visit provided an opportunity to strengthen collaboration and promote experience-sharing between the two institutions.
The KASPA Director-General expressed appreciation to the Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget for the warm reception and hospitality extended to the delegation.
She described the experience and knowledge shared during the engagement as valuable to Kano State’s efforts to strengthen its social protection system.
“The experience shared, the social protection programmes and interventions highlighted, as well as the inter-ministerial data-sharing protocol, are impressive and invaluable to Kano State’s social protection context,” she said.
A major highlight of the learning visit was a series of presentations by social protection focal persons from various Lagos State ministries, departments and agencies.
The presentations highlighted programmes and interventions aimed at reducing poverty and vulnerability and improving the livelihoods of vulnerable populations.
The delegation also received presentations on “Social Protection Policy Implementation in Lagos State” and the “Lagos State Single Social Register,” delivered by Mrs Fajemibola D., Head of the Programme Coordinating Unit, SPDC.
In a reciprocal knowledge-sharing session, the Kano delegation presented its experience in social protection implementation in the state, with Malam Dalhatu Danladi providing an overview of Kano State’s social protection efforts.
The learning visit is part of KASPA’s efforts to strengthen institutional capacity, promote evidence-based planning and identify practical approaches towards developing a more coordinated, sustainable and data-driven social protection system in Kano State.
