Ona Ara Local Government Hosts OYO-SOCU, Calls for Integrity in CBT Register Expansion

The Ona Ara Local Government, under the leadership of Chairman Dr. Temitope Kolapo Glorious, recently welcomed the Oyo State Operations Coordinating Unit (OYO-SOCU), led by Acting Coordinator Mr. Ismaila Olatunji, for a critical sensitization session on the ongoing expansion of the Community-Based Targeting (CBT) Register. The session, aimed at educating the local government management team on OYO-SOCU’s data collection and registration procedures, emphasizes transparency and integrity in the selection process.

In a press statement released by the Chairman’s Press Secretary, Mr. Rahmon Alawode, Dr. Glorious noted the importance of this engagement, which seeks to ensure that the local government is well-informed on the standards and processes required for accurate data gathering.

Speaking at the event, Acting Coordinator Mr. Ismaila Olatunji explained that Governor Seyi Makinde has recently approved a series of sensitization exercises for newly elected chairmen, empowering them with essential knowledge about OYO-SOCU’s data collection methods. He highlighted that this visit marks the third time the CBT initiative has been brought to Ona Ara Local Government, targeting key demographics such as elderly individuals, youth, widows, and persons with disabilities, with a goal of reaching 2,000 households.

Mr. Fatola clarified that only permanent residents are eligible for registration and emphasized the need for rigorous data integrity. Supporting these points, Mr. Odesola noted that the Federal Government’s NG-CARES program relies on OYO-SOCU’s register to identify beneficiaries, with over 58,000 residents currently engaged through this register. He added that states failing to expand their registers would risk exclusion from future N-CARES initiatives.

Dr. Glorious expressed his gratitude to Governor Makinde for authorizing the sensitization session, particularly at a time when newly elected chairmen are in need of such strategic insights. He pledged full support for the initiative and assured stakeholders of Ona Ara’s commitment to maintaining a high standard of data integrity.

In closing, Dr. Glorious thanked Mr. Olatunji and his team for their diligent efforts, affirming that Ona Ara Local Government had already initiated a comprehensive data collection exercise. He emphasized that the insights shared during the session would further strengthen Ona Ara’s capacity for data accuracy and integrity.

Present at the meeting were key local government officials, including Head of Local Government Administration Dr. Adedapo Atoyebi, Local Government Secretary Hon. Sunmonu Babatunde, Chief of Staff Hon. Isiaka Arinola, and Director of Education and Social Services Alhaja Adenike Akande, among others.