The Enugu State Operations Coordinating Unit, ENSOCU and the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) on Friday, formalized modalities to sensitize stakeholders and communities on the need to register for the Federal Government, and World Bank-assisted National Social Investment Programmes.

This collaboration also involves the sensitization and enumeration of the poor and vulnerable in ESUT Community based on agreed criteria.

The Vice Chancellor of ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, while giving the assurance to ENSOCU officials at the permanent site of university in Agbani, noted that the institution would deploy union leaders who would work in concert with the Bursar in providing statistical data to carryout the exercise..

The Vice Chancellor further stressed that the union leaders were in the right position to identify the poor and vulnerable staff for capturing into the programme.

Recalling that the National Social Investment Programmes, NSIP, of the Federal Government have failed to lift Nigerians out of poverty line, he urged the Federal Government to create a conducive environment by introducing actionable programmes and erecting solid infrastructure that would guarantee sustainable development in the country.

He expressed worry that rather than lift Nigerians out of poverty, NSIP has made Nigerians lazy, unproductive, and willing instruments in the hands of mischief makers.

While addressing ESUT Management and other key functionaries of the Institution, the Enugu State Coordinator of ENSOCU, Barr. Joy-Blosoom Eneh, who led other officials of the group including Engr. Chris Nnam- Head of Monitoring and Evaluation, Suleiman Onyeama – Information Officer etc during the courtesy call explained that ENSOCU, is a World Bank/Federal Government assisted programme with the sole aim of building a credible state register of poor and vulnerable households in the state for planning and interventions.

 “The essence of building a State Social Register is to ensure that all social interventions/programmes of Government and donor partners reach the people who need them most,” she said.

She further explained that SOCU generate data through a process called the Community Based Targeting process which gives members of any community the opportunity to identify vulnerable households through their respective poverty-measuring standards.

She equally enjoined the ESUT community to sensitize stakeholders and members of their respective communities about the programme.

She further noted that ENSOCU could equally collaborate with ESUT in the areas of agriculture, borehole drilling and water reticulation as well as solar street lighting.

While giving the vote of thanks, the ESUT Registrar, Ambrose Ugwu, emphasized the need for proper sensitization, stating that South East residents have been shortchanged in some of the social intervention programmes of the federal government.

He enjoined ESUT staff to carry the message to their respective communities in order to guarantee massive enrollment.