Austin Ajayi I Yola.
No fewer than 194 young men and women were given starter kits during the graduation ceremony of Federal Government National Social Investment Program (N-SIP) in Adamawa.
The six weeks intensive training on how to repair mobile phones was part of The Federal Government plans to get many Nigerians out of poverty, according to focal Person for Adamawa state, Mrs. Mary Yuwadi about 64,607 vulnerable people in Adamawa have been enrolled under the Conditional Cash Transfer scheme of the National Social Investment Programme (N-SIP).
She said the beneficiaries were enrolled into the CCT programme across the 21 local government areas of the state, adding that the programme drastically reduced poverty and enhance wealth creation in the society.
“Presently, 28,486 people are receiving N5,000 monthly stipend equivalent to N142,430 a year.
“The remaining 36,121 people will soon start benefiting from the scheme,” she said.
She added that under N-Power Batches A, B and C, a total of 28,697 people have been enrolled in the state since inception in 2016, while 162,782 pupils captured under National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, where primary one to three pupils are receiving free meal a day, and about 2,259 cooks employed in the state.
While 38,089 persons accessed different loans to enable them to set up their businesses under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP).
According to her, some 28,000 beneficiaries have been registered under GEEP 2.0 programme, adding that they would soon benefit from traders, farmers and market omen soft loans initiated by the government.
She advised the beneficiaries against diversion of the kits and urged them to ensure effective use of skills learnt and engage in productive activities.
Sadiya Umar-Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, in her remarks said N-SIP programme was initiated in 2015 and was critical to President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s economic transformation programme.
Represented by Dr Umar Bindir, National Coordinator, Social Investment Programmes, the minister said that Nigeria has been recognized as one of the largest social protection programmes in Africa, with about $1billion dollars invested annually to improve the lives of the poor and most vulnerable in the country.
“Since the introduction of the programme in 2016, it has positively impacted on the lives of poor and vulnerable in Nigeria including persons with disability, internally displaced and returnees,” he said.
Noting that the N-Skills was aimed at improving the quality and relevance of skills delivered using a certification system and to ease the transition of target beneficiaries to full time skilled employment.
One of the beneficiaries, Salihu Abdullahi, thanked the federal government for giving them the opportunity to participate in the programme.
