The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, has partnered with UNICEF to organize a vital capacity-building workshop focused on Shock-Responsive and Adaptive Social Protection. The initiative brought together members of the Social Protection Implementation Technical Working Group (TWG), alongside focal persons from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to fortify the state’s welfare delivery framework.
Held at The Patron Hotels in Sangotedo, the workshop was specifically designed to equip practitioners with the tools needed to design and implement robust systems. These upgraded systems aim to effectively prepare for, mitigate, and respond to economic, climate-related, and public health shocks that heavily impact vulnerable households across Lagos State.
Driving Sustainable Development and Resilience
Delivering the welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs. Olayinka Modupe Ojo who was represented by the Director of Budget, Mr. Oluwafemi Orojimi described the training as both timely and strategic. She emphasized that the knowledge gained would directly enhance evidence-based planning, targeting, and delivery of interventions to women, children, the elderly, and persons living with disabilities.
“This workshop is a crucial step forward in building a responsive and adaptive system capable of protecting our most vulnerable residents,” Mrs. Ojo stated. “The insights shared here will heavily support the implementation of the Lagos State Social Protection Policy, the THEMES+ Agenda, and the LSDP 2052.”
Transforming Welfare into a “Trampoline”
Speaking on the urgency of the intervention, UNICEF Social Policy and Programme Manager, Muhammed Okorie, noted that adaptive social protection is no longer optional as global and local shocks grow in frequency and intensity. He urged governments to redesign their safety nets so they can expand rapidly during emergencies through smarter benefit delivery and support mechanisms.
“The goal should be to move beyond traditional safety nets that catch people when they fall. Instead, social protection systems should function like a trampoline helping people bounce back stronger,” Okorie remarked.
Okorie further highlighted the Lagos State Single Social Register as an invaluable tool for identifying vulnerable populations, recommending that it be expanded to track specific indicators like malnutrition and out-of-school children to maximize program effectiveness.
Workshop participants praised the training as an eye-opener, expressing confidence that their newly acquired skills would vastly improve coordination and service delivery across all Lagos State MDAs.
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