Plan International Nigeria has anticipated over N150 billion investment projects across the country that would address six thematic areas of 20 million girls in the next five years.
The Country Director, Plan International, Charles Usie, said this at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, to celebrate their 10-years operations in Nigeria.
Usie said that the organisation was ready to continue to provide support in areas that would address the needs of Nigerian girls, women, children and youths.
He identified the thematic areas the organisation would help address as education, health, child development, livelihood, employment and entrepreneurship, and youth development.
”Going forward, these six thematic areas remain sacrosanct. We will continue to invest in these six areas and continue to do as much as we can for Nigerians.
”Our target for the next five years is to reach and serve 20 million girls across the six thematic areas.
”In Nigeria, over 40 million people living below poverty lines are in abject poverty. So for us, 20 million is a decent ambition.
”We are not able to do this alone. So in the next five years, we will be activated vibrant partnerships. We’ll be activating productive partnerships that will work to bring about this,” he said.
Explaining the organisation’s impact on Nigeria in the last 10 years, Usie said Plan had invested over 180 million euro as operating budget to deliver on its different projects.
According to him, we have supported the government of Nigeria to bring succour and instigate hope to Nigerians through these projects.
”In the last 10 years, whilst we have been based here in Abuja as our country office, we have operated in over 19 states.
”In over 19 states, we have had projects that have been active and have touched the lives of people. We have been able to deliver a total of 127 projects across over 19 states.
” Out of this 127 projects, 103 of them are completed projects, which means we started these projects and are now completed,” he added.
He further explained that its presence had reached directly over 36 million people, a little above 12 per cent of the country’s population.
He added its presence in the country had led to the renovation and furnished of over 517 schools in the North East, excluding other areas it had worked in.
”Education is central thing to what we do, we believe that when children, especially girls, are well educated, informed, and given the right skills, they will grow up, thrive and live a productive life.
”Another part of investment for us is healthcare. We have invested heavily in the sexual reproductive health of especially women, girls and children across different states in Nigeria.
“We have just handed over 40 primary healthcare centres in Sokoto alone. Some of these centres were renovated and some built and furnished,” he said.
The country director said these centres were selected in conjunction with the state government, traditional and women leaders to look at the criteria such as proximity, security and the healthcare workers.
He said this was done to ensure good use of the centres and also managed by health personnel residing within the communities. (NAN)