Kwara State Government has reiterated its resolve to continue uplifting the people and firms in the state, especially those faced with the scourge of COVID-19 pandemic through the NG-CARES scheme.
NG-CARES is a support programme to state governments by the Federal Government, through the World Bank, to cushion the effects of COVID-19.
A statement signed by the state Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Oyeyemi Olasumbo, on Thursday in Ilorin, quoted the commissioner as saying that government will assist the vulnerable and downtrodden through the scheme.
It said the commissioner stated this while receiving the World Bank/FG team during their visitation to evaluate government performance on NG-CARES implementation in the state.
Olasumbo expressed delight in receiving the World Bank/FG team and thanked the visitors for finding the state worthy of visiting due to the incredible level of achievements in the implementation of NG-CARES scheme.
She disclosed that the state government had provided grants for NG-CARES implementation to take off before it receives advancement from the World Bank in order to accelerate the impact of NG-CARES on the people.
The statement further said that the Task Team Lead of the World Bank, Prof. Foluso Okunmadewa, lauded the state government for its noticeable results in the implementation of NG-CARES scheme.
It quoted Okunmadewa as saying that Kwara was the second state to be visited in the federation after Lagos due to its promising and encouraging performance in the NG-CARES programme.
He further said that the purpose of the visit was to identify the result in the first phase of the implementation of NG-CARES, in view of identified constraints faced.
The team lead said that the most performing states would be eligible for the second phase.