Grants
Isaiah Eka
Uyo, Sept. 27, 2022 (NAN) The Federal Government has begun the disbursement of grants under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom.
Sadiya Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, said in Uyo on Tuesday that the programne targets to remove 100 million people out of poverty.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, Farouq said the disbursement was to part of the Federal Government’s commitment to support the vulnerable population.
She said that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was committed to reducing poverty and improving the wellbeing of the citizenry.
Farouq said that the NSIP scheme which commenced in 2016 had impacted positively on the lives of many Nigerians, especially the poor and vulnerable.
She said that the scheme’s essence was to give out soft loans to low income Nigerians involved in small scale businesses but lacked access to credit facilities.
”This is part of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP 2.0) being implemented by the current administration.
”The programme is designed to give priority attention to the most vulnerable, such as widows, youths, physically challenged and displaced persons.
”GEEP has three unique products such as TraderMoni, MarketMoni and FaermereMoni,” she said.
The minister said that MarketMoni with a loan portfolio of N50,000, had a total of 14,326 registered beneficiaries in Akwa Ibom.
“Out of 10,197 that were captured, 888 were verified and 694 have been enumerated for disbursement,” she said.
Farouq said that TraderMoni had 13,691 registered beneficiaries in the state with 351 persons already enumerated for disbursement.
She said that many families would benefit from the NSIP scheme in the state if other stakeholders complemented the efforts of the Federal Government.
The minister commended the Gov. Udom Emmanuel-led government for its contributions and partnership toward the effective implementation of the NSIP scheme in the state.
In her remarks, Dr Ini Adiakpan, Akwa Ibom Commisioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, commended the Federal Government for initiating the NSIP scheme.
Adiakpan said that the loan being given to small scale traders and farmers under the scheme was an effective way to fight poverty.
”The loans are given without collateral, the loan will help to expand their businesses.
”I urge the beneficiaries to make the best use of the money to improve their businesses and wellbeing,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Janet Otoyo, thanked the Federal Government for the grant.
Otoyo expressed the commitment of the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the money. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
IE/AZU/JNC
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Edited by Azubuike Okeh/Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma