Grace Egila
Over 7,000 Beneficiaries to Receive cash Grants in Imo and Abia from the Federal Government grants are for Vulnerable Groups.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media Nneka Ikem Anibeze on Saturday.
According to the statement, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq on Saturday flagged off the program alongside the Digitized Payment for Conditional Cash Transfer at the Concorde Hotel Owerri.
At least 3,894 beneficiaries across the 27 Local Government areas of the state will receive a twenty thousand Naira one-off Cash Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Imo state while about 4,738 beneficiaries were selected for the Government Enterprise Empowerment Program interest-free loans.
In her address, the Minister stated that the beneficiaries will receive loans ranging from N50,000 to N300,000 for farmers, petty traders, widows, and youths.
“Today, l have come to Roll-Out the program in the “Land of Hope” Imo State. Hence, successful beneficiaries of the GEEP program will start receiving credit alerts from Access bank by God’s grace.
“This is a program designed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for vulnerable and low-income Nigerians who are involved in some sort of commercial activity or capacity but have never had the opportunity to access loans.
“It is meant to give priority to the most vulnerable in our society eg widows, youth, disabled and the displaced amongst others”.
In his response, the executive Governor of Imo state, Sen. Hope Uzodinma thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the laudable empowerment program which he described as life-touching.
The Governor asked for more Social Empowerment Programs slots for Imo state to cushion the effects of banditry and insecurity in the state.
“We have felt the impact of the National Investment Programs of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
“We are appreciative of the efforts of the Ministry in making sure that President Buhari’s dream of lifting 100m Nigerians out of poverty is realized.
“We also appeal to you to increase the number of beneficiaries in Imo state.
“Lately, the poverty index in the state increased due to banditry and insecurity.”
Minister Umar Farouq also presented engagement letters and monitoring devices to some of the onboarded ninety-five Independent Monitors and utensils for pupils under the National Home Grown School Feeding Program.
In Abia state, the Minister who was represented by the Director of Special Needs, Mrs Nkechi Onwukwe also launched the GEEP 2.0 with 4,108 beneficiaries.
3,107 will receive twenty thousand Naira each as Cash Grants to Vulnerable Groups while twenty-seven Independent Monitors were on-boarded in Abia state and given engagement letters as well as monitoring devices.
“While the target of this Cash Grant project is to increase income and productive assets of the target beneficiaries, it is highly expected that the beneficiaries will use the grants to improve their productivity, create wealth, generate employment and improve their living standard.”
