The Federal Government has commended Ekiti State Government for playing active and supportive role in the implementation of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) in the drive to take the state out of poverty.
The Minister commendation of Humanitarian Affairs, was given in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, 12 December, 2022, by the Minister Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADMSD), Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, in Ado Ekiti on Monday during the flag off of the grant for vulnerable groups and other social investment programmes carried out by the ministry.
The Minister, who was represented by a Director in the Ministry, Mr Joseph Adaraloye, disclosed that a total two thousand, eight hundred and sixty-seven (2867) beneficiaries received grants of N20,000 each, adding that NSIP is a programme of the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari designed specifically to lift many of the poorest and vulnerable citizens in Nigeria out of poverty.
Disbursing the grants to beneficiaries, Farouk also flagged off the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP 2.0) aimed at supporting vulnerable and low- Income Nigerians who are involved in some sort of commercial activity but no capacity to go on and who never had the opportunity to access loans.
She added that GEEP was captured in three important schematic areas including TraderMoni loan of N50,000, targeted towards uplifting under-privileged and marginalized youths between the ages of 18-40 years; MarketMoni loan, designed for underprivileged and marginalized women in our society and specifically targeted towards Female-headed households e.g. Widows, divorcees amongst other vulnerable groups and FarmerMoni loan scheme of maximum of N300,000 designed to provide agricultural inputs to rural farmers.
“We at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development acknowledged the complementary effort of the Ekiti State Government and other stakeholders in the implementation of NSIP in the State. With a proper synergy and every stakeholder playing their part in the implementation of NSIP in the State, we believe that the target beneficiaries and many more citizens of the State will be on their way out of poverty to prosperity and we will, by the Grace of God, as an Nation, remain on track of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030 as designed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The GVG is President Muhammadu Buhari’s Manifesto fulfilment project, which was introduced in 2020 mainly aimed at sustaining the social inclusion agenda of President Buhari’s Administration on the poor, which is consistent with his compassionate and deliberate National agenda of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
“The GVG is designed to provide a one-off cash grant of N20,000.00 to the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians in rural and semi-urban areas across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory. Our target in Ekiti State is to disburse the grant to 2,867 beneficiaries across the 16 Local Government Areas in the State. It is worthy to note that 70% of these beneficiaries must be women, while the remaining 30% is for youths. Mr. President has further directed that, at least 15% of the total number of beneficiaries must specifically be allocated to citizens with special needs, including Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and Senior Citizens in the State”,
the Minister stated.
Speaking on behalf of the Ekiti State Government, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr (Mrs) Habibat Adubiaro commended President Mohammadu Buhari for his various intervention programmes aimed at ensuring that Nigerians live in prosperity noting that the disbursement of cash grants shows the Federal Government’s desire to bring succour to the financial barriers by the people and reduce the current level of poverty across Nigeria.
Dr Adubiaro urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the cash grants by investing in their businesses to achieve the aims and objectives of government at improving condition of living of the people.
The SSG also noted that the six- pillar development agenda of the present administration would be instrumental to the transformation of the state into a prosperous economic hub expected to be of benefit to all residents of Ekiti state.
“The different Social Investment Intervention Initiatives being undertaking by the administration of President Mohammadu Buhari is one of the many laudable projects this administration would be fondly remembered for. It shows the depths of the Federal Government’s desire to bring succour to the financial impediments of its people and also reduce and also reduce the current level of poverty in the country.
“To the beneficiaries and their different groups, I wish to enjoin you to see the event being held today as a special one being put together specifically for your good. While your expenditure of the cash grant will be closely monitored by appropriate authorities, it is naturally expected of you to put these cash grants into good use by investing in your businesses and work hard to ensure you make good profits from it for the benefit of your household, community and the Nigeria economy. This is the only way through which the aims and objectives of the Federal Government in undertaking this initiatives can be achieved). She said.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Ojo Jeremiah and Mrs Bolanle Daniel thanked both the Federal Government and Ekiti state Government for the cash grants and promised to make judicious use of the money.
