By joshua 
Lack of Coordination, Data, other factors identified as hindering provision of Social Security at one day Kogi dialogue on Social Protection.
A one day dialogue on ACT Naija Project has ended in Lokoja with a call for effective Coordination framework that will ensure that roles and responsibilities are properly defined in managing social work and social interventions in the State.
The ACT Naija Project in partnership with the Kogi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, the programme is implemented by a consortium of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, Bread for the World Germany, and the New Initiative for Social Development (NISD) and Co funded by the European Union
In a welcome address, the Executive Director, ANEEJ, David Ugolor, called on participants to contribute to improving social protection interventions in Kogi State, stating that the objectives of the stakeholders engagement includes; strengthening government civil society collaboration towards more inclusive and transparent social protection delivery.
The Executive Director for ANEEJ, Rev David Ugolor, was represented by the Assistant Program Manager, Mr. Innocent Edemhanria, emphasised on the urgent formulation of a social protection policy in kogi State for an effective social protection system.
He lamented the high rate of poverty across the country, pointing out that from the baseline survey carried, the figures in the Local Government Areas of the State where the project is being implemented is also not encouraging.
He assured of capacity building for the steering committee and others involved in the project to enable them help track records of social protection as well as strategies needed to help in social protection.
Speaking at the summit, the Kogi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Fatimah Momoh stressed that the Ministry is synergizing with ANEEJ and ACT Naija Project to ensure that there is an effective coordination of social protection issues in the state.
The Commissioner who was represented by the Director, Planning Research and Statistics in the Ministry, however regretted that issues affecting the elderly and destitute are not mentioned and urged the Ministry of Health to as a matter of urgency attend to burning issues that are brought to the hospital per day.
In a speech, the Deputy Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Comfort Egwaba, noted that a robust social protection system delivers profound benefits for any nation as it serves as an essential tool for poverty reduction and lifting vulnerable households out of destitution.
In a keynote address, the commissioner, Kogi State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hajia Rabietu Okute who was represented by the Director Special NEEDS, Ojochide Ibrahim, who spoke on the theme, Strengthening Social Protection Intervention, lamented that many Nigerians, particularly the most vulnerable, remain excluded from social protection programmes leaving them without safety.
At the end of the one day dialogue which attracted stakeholders from various sectors and the Military, a 26 Member State steering committee was inaugurated to handle discussions that would ensure social protection in the State.
Highlights of the stakeholders engagement was panel discussion by the relevant line Ministries, department and agencies charged with the coordination of providing social security.