By ALI MUHAMMAD RABIU; Editing by BASIRAT MEMUDU
The Federal Government has announced plans to design a new free programme that will systematically lift Nigerians out of poverty.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, made the disclosure during a ministerial stakeholder engagement and interaction with beneficiaries of the Household Opportunities for Poverty Eradication Cash Transfer (HOPE-CT) programme held in Ilorin, Kwara state.
Dr. Doro explained that the initiative was meant to assess how government interventions are translating into tangible improvements in the lives of vulnerable households.
According to him, under the HOPE-CT initiative, Kwara State has received about 13.7 million Naira, describing the State as a unique example in the programme’s evolution.
The Minister acknowledged the wide reach of the programme across multiple phases, commending the Governor of Kwara State, Abdul-Rahman AbdulRazaq, for his leadership and commitment to citizens’ welfare.
Dr. Doro noted that the successes recorded reflect purposeful governance and alignment with national priorities.
In her remarks, the Kwara State Commissioner for Social Development, Dr. Mariam Nnafatima Imam, described the programme as timely and impactful.
She revealed that over 183,000 households benefited from the intervention across the first, second, and third phases in all the sixteen local government areas of the state.
Dr. Imam added that the initiative aligns strongly with the governor’s vision, noting that the ministry continues to support orphans, vulnerable children, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and other disadvantaged groups, while strengthening juvenile care centres.
She expressed optimism that the efforts of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs would continue to bring relief and hope to communities in Kwara and beyond.
The Commissioner reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to delivering practical, people-centred interventions and expanding the programme’s reach.
Our correspondent report that two of the beneficiaries of N75,000 Naira, Aliu Ayinla and Aishat Suleiman said they injected the fund into POP and Charcoal businesses.
They thanked the federal government for the support and appealed for the expansion of the programme to accommodate more beneficiaries.
