48% of Oyo Residents Multidimensionally Poor, Only 2% Get Assistance — UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that poverty in Oyo State remains alarmingly high, with nearly half of the population classified as multi dimensionally poor, yet only two percent currently receive any form of social support.

The concern was raised in Ibadan during the launch of the Supporting Sustainable Social Protection Systems in Nigeria (SUSI) project.

Speaking on behalf of UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Saeed Wafaa, the agency’s Chief of the Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere, stressed that social protection should be seen as a lifeline, not a luxury. She noted that despite policies such as free basic education, school feeding, and health insurance, poverty remains widespread, with 48.7 percent of Oyo’s residents and 72.7 percent of children affected. Only 11 percent of the population is currently listed in the state’s social register.

“When we talk about social protection, we are talking about dignity,” Lafoucriere said. “It means a mother in a rural community can send her child to school instead of the farm, families can access healthcare without choosing between medicine and food, and communities can withstand economic shocks because there are systems to catch them when they fall. The urgency for greater investment is now.”

UNICEF Programme and Social Policy Manager, Muhammad Okorie, added that efforts were underway to expand coverage. “By the end of 2026, we expect an additional 250,000 households to be included in the social register,” he said.

Acting Governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Lawal, pledged the government’s commitment to deepening social inclusion, noting that the SUSI project would deliver a modernised management information system to link social protection across agencies. He thanked the European Union and other development partners for their support.

The SUSI project is being implemented by UNICEF and the International Labour Organization (ILO), with funding from the European Union.