By Babalola Lukman Laleye
The Special Adviser to the Niger State Governor on Empowerment and Social Protection and Focal Person, Social Investment Program(SIP), office of the Vice President,Federal Republic of Nigeria, Honorable Afiniki Eunice Dauda, disclosed that Niger State is among the top list of states in the federation that are benefiting the federal government social investment program.Honorable Afiniki said this during a Radio Phone-in Program “CONTACT” on Crystal Radio 91.3 FM in Minna, Niger state She said the Conditional Cash Transfer Program (CCT)has achieved success story as part of the federal government interventions in Niger state.The Special Adviser said Niger state is one of the 8 states that were selected to benefit from the monthly 5,000 naira cash transfer to the most vulnerable poor,Honorable Afiniki further revealed that based on the data generated by the World Bank through the office of Youth Empowerment Support Operation Program (YESSO) which was implemented in the three senatorial zones of Niger State.The Special Adviser who is also Focal Person of SIP,described the Government Enterprise Empowerment Program (GEEP) also as a huge success,which she said the selected beneficiaries in the state are awaiting their loan package.She stressed out that the loan which ranges from 10,000 to150,000 naira was geared towards improving the businesses of the beneficiaries that applied.On the NPOWER program in the state,Honorable Afiniki reiterated government commitment towards improving from the precious exercise, stressing that as a result of this Five laptops,one multi-scanner printing machine and one Generator were distributed to the 25 local government areas in the state.In other to facilitate the NPOWER program in the state, Honorable Afiniki disclosed that a form was designed in other to guide the applicants from previous hitches such as applicant’s names, incorrect BVN account number not matching with the document submitted for registration which causes delayed or outright disqualification.According to her, the beauty of the NPOWER is that applicants are to register online, so it is either the applicants get it right or wrong as her office cannot do the processes for the applicants,instead they are to support and guide them.Honorable Afiniki,said the state is targeting 35,000 registered prospective applicants which has now exceeded to about 60,000 as at the end of June 2017, 46,000 applicants residents in Niger had already registered, indicating that before the expiration of the Dateline (13th July 2017) the number will increase.The Focal Person confirmed that the federal government is also working towards targeting the person in special needs, such as the blind, the spinal cord injury person, the deaf and dumb.She advised the interested applicants who are finding it difficult to register online or come to SIP office or go to their local government secretariat where ICT centers have been set-up for the exercise at no cost While responding to a caller question, Hon Afiniki advised NPOWER beneficiaries who had been posted outside their local government of residence to make the sacrifice and secure accommodation for themselves as her office is making plans to engage major stakeholders on the issue.On Home Grown School Feeding ,Honorable Afiniki revealed that modalities for the formal takeoff of the program in the state had been concluded, "Already schools have been selected, pupils of primary 1-3 of public schools have been numbered, food vendors have been engaged and Banks account and their BVN have been generated. And the pilot scheme of the program was test-run in five selected public primary schools". Afiniki maintained.In his Contribution,the Project Manager,Honorable Attahiru Musa Abubakar,said the Skills For Job and Public Welfare Program would soon takeoff in Niger state,he said this component of SIP is to cater for the uneducated as well improve those with already acquired educational discipline.Honorable Afiniki,also thanked the executive Governor of Niger State Abubakar Sani Bello for his passion, support and commitment to the federal government social intervention program in the state.
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