The Kwara State Government has expressed its readiness to partner with Home and Street Kids Welfare Initiative (HSKI), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), to tackle challenges facing vulnerable children and women in the state and address social inequalities in the society, commending the organisation for being compassionate to the needy.
The Commissioner for Social Development, Hajia Mariam Nnafatima Imam, PhD, stated this recently while receiving the representatives from HSKI, who paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry.
The Commissioner emphasised the importance of cooperation between the state government and NGOs that are women and children-focused to address challenges facing the vulnerable groups in the state.
Hajia Imam acknowledged that no state can achieve meaningful growth without collective action, particularly in empowering the vulnerable group, calling for stronger engagement between the state government and the public to improve the living conditions of the vulnerable groups.
She encouraged NGOs to collaborate with the AbdulRazaq-led administration in raising awareness on women’s and children’s rights, promising that the state government will continue to give priority attention to such rights.
The Commissioner stressed that providing vulnerable children with education and mothers with sustainable livelihoods are significant measures towards building a safer and more prosperous Kwara, commending HSKI for its commitment in alleviating the suffering of street children and women through its flagship project tagged “Lift Them Off the Streets (LOTS)”.
Hajia Imam said such initiative will go a long way in improving the living conditions of the vulnerable children and women and address social inequalities in the society, promising the state government’s readiness to support the organisation’s initiative.
Earlier, the founder of Home and Street Kids Welfare Initiative, Mrs. Funmi Omisope, explained that the organisation’s flagship project, LOTS, is aimed at rescuing 200 street children and enrolling them in schools to access quality education, psychosocial support and mentorship.
She added that the project will empower 100 mothers of the children through various skills acquisition programmes to prevent dependence and alleviate poverty among them.
According to her, “HSKI has positioned itself as a leading NGO addressing the welfare of street beggars in Kwara, with interventions designed to reintegrate them into the society, restore dignity and provide hope for a better future.”
Mrs. Omisope noted that true societal progress can only be achieved when no child is left behind, stressing the importance of government, private sector and community support in realizing the vision of a free street-child Kwara.
Amina Tijjani Yusuf,
Asst Press Secretary,
MOSD.