The Federal government on Tuesday said that 125,000 vulnerable women across the 36 States including Federal Capital Territory,Abujawill benefit from the Grant for Rural Women program.
The Honourable Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq stated this at the Flag-Off of the program in Osogbo, Osun state capital, said that three thousand Osun rural women will benefit from the grant with each collecting a cash of N20, 000.
Farouq ,who was represented by Dr Mathew Dada explaine that the programme was introduced in 2020 to sustain the social inclusion agenda of President Buhari’s Administration.
She maintained that president buhari remain on the track of lifting 100 million out of poverty by 2030, urging all stakeholder to remain committed to uplifting the poor and vulnerable in the country.
According to the minister “Vision of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years was designed to provide a one-off grant to some of the poorest and most vulnerable women in rural and peri-urban areas of the country.
“Our target in Osun State is to disburse the grant to over 3,500 beneficiaries across the 30 Local Government Councils. In line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s social inclusion, up to 5% of the total number of beneficiaries is allocated to Persons with Disability (PWDs).
“Since the inception of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration in 2015, the Federal Government has paid more attention to promoting the plight of the poor and vulnerable in the country despite the economic slump the Administration inherited.
“This informed the decision to initiate the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) as a strategy for enhancing social inclusion. NSIP is one the largest social protection programmes in Africa with over $1billion earmarked annually to cause positive change in the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable in the country.
“Since its introduction in 2016, the prorgramme has impacted positively on the lives of the poor and vulnerable in Nigeria. I have personally witnessed the life-changing experiences of people who lived below the poverty line and those that are vulnerable to shocks.
“Over what 12 million households have benefitted from NSIP interventions in the last 5 years. This includes 98,802 pupils in 1,462 public schools receiving 1 meal per day prepared by 1,936 cooks in the Osun State and 15,572 heads of households receiving N5,000.00 monthly cash transfer in the State under the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme.
The minister however charged the beneficiaries make good use of the grant to contribute towards improving their living standard.
Speaking, the State Of Osun Governor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to end poverty in the country.
Oyetola who spoke through the Secretary to State Government of Osun, Mr Wole Oyebamiji said Buhari led Administration has the record of implementing the biggest and the most ambitious social protection programmes in the history of of the nation.
He further said that not less than four million citizens are benefiting from different programmes of Buhari administration across the Nigeria.
He lauded the delegation of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to for their interest in the welfare and well-being of the people of Os vun.
