By Francis Ogwo
A 9-man steering committee on Covid-19 recovery has been inaugurated by the Oyo State Government to investigate the impacts of the pandemic on the state’s economy.
The Committee, which was launched on Thursday by State Governor, Seyi Makinde, was christened: “Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (State CARES).”
According to the Governor, the Committee would look into economic recovery for the State post-Covid-19, citing support and services for the poor and vulnerable.
“So, it is about post-COVID-19 economic recovery.
“We want to increase access to basic services such as healthcare, care for the poor and the vulnerable households within the state.
“Also, we want to strengthen the food supply chain for the poor households, because we know that once we are able to tackle hunger, people are able to think correctly,” Makinde stated,
Speaking further, the Governor revealed that the State Government donated Farm inputs to farmers to increase food production.
“We also came up with the one billion naira MSME fund to provide credit at a single-digit interest rate to MSMEs in the state,” he added.
The Steering committee members are: Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Committee, Mr Akinola Ojo; Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Faosat Sanni; Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Ojemuyiwa Ojekunle; Commissioner for Trade, Industries and Cooperatives, Mr Adebisi Adeniyi; Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Lateef Oyeleke; Director-General, Oyo State Agriculture Development Agency (OYSADA) and Executive Adviser on Agribusiness, Dr Adebowale Akande.
Others are: Director-General, Oyo State Investment, Mr Segun Ogunwuyi; Executive Assistant on Intervention Fund, Mrs Aderonke Adebayo, and the Chairman, Community and Social Development Agency, Mr Ahmed Eesuola.
Recall that the Federal Government, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), had its distribution plan for the Covid-19 vaccine deployment to states, with Oyo State budgeted to receive 1,848 vaccines.
