Federal Government has announced that a total of 550,000 applicants have been shortlisted for the Batch C N-Power programme.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq made this known at a news briefing in Abuja.
The minister stated that the 550,000 short-listed applicants were selected through the National Social Investment Management System, NASIMS and have been contacted through their e-mail addresses after which they can enrol their biometric data which would lead them to the final selection.
”By the 3rd week of May 2021, over 1.8 million Nigerians successfully updated their records and took the compulsory online test.
“Further screening was undertaken and a list of 550,000 applicants qualified for the final selection. 500,000 will be finally selected nationwide to serve as the first stream of the N-Power Batch C program.
The Minister also announced the resumption of the National Home-Grown School Feeding programme.
A total of 9,196,823 pupils in classes 1 to 3 in public primary schools will receive one nutritious meal daily in all 54,619 schools nationwide.
The programme, according to the Minister is being expanded to accommodate an additional five million children in line with the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The outcome of this programme includes increase in school enrolment, improved nutrition for benefiting pupils, boosting of local economies and facilitating job creation through the activities of 103,028 cooks, 100,000 small holder farmers and numerous aggregators and commodity transporters engaged nationwide”.
Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq also revealed plans to on-board the second Batch of beneficiaries under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) which is nearing completion and will be made public soon.
She also reiterated the Ministry’s committed to the continued implementation of the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP), in line with Mr President’s policy to unfailingly lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years, through innovative Youth Empowerment and Gainful Employment.
RN