Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs , Disaster Management and Social Development in partnership with the Kwara State government has flagged off the disbursement of N20,000 grant each to 2,655 poor and vulnerable in the state.
The ministry has also launched the second phase of the Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme (GEEP 2.0) loan scheme of President Muhammadu Buhari that is designed to benefit 6,086 farmers, business owners, widows and divorcees across the state.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Ilorin, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Welfare, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, represented by the Director of Social Development in the ministry, Mr Taiwo Bashorun said the cash grant is part of the Federal government social inclusion agenda to lift millions of Nigerian citizens above the poverty line.
She explained that the programme is also designed to provide a one-off cash grant of #20,000 naira to the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians in rural and semi-urban areas across the 36 states of the federation including the FCT.
Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq noted that the disbursement of the grant was targeted to at least 2,655 citizens across the sixteen local government areas of the state.
She said the President has directed that 70% of the beneficiaries must be women, while 30% is reserved for youths, with at least 15% of them expected to be persons with disability (PWDs) and the aged people in the state.
The Minister commended the state governor for the synergy and and subscription to the Federal government social investment programmes and other economic policies.
In his remark ,Kwara state governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Mamman Saba Jubril said the disbursement of grants and loans to marketers and poor citizens reflects the government’s commitment to inclusion and wellbeing of the citizens.
He urged the beneficiaries to use the funds given to them for the purposes they are meant for.
COV/ALI MUHAMMAD RABIU