The Federal Government has begun the electronic Conditional Cash Transfer Programme in Anambra with grants to 500 beneficiaries.
The event, attended by some community leaders, government officials and 500 beneficiaries drawn from the 21 Local Government Areas of the state, was held at the Prof. Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka on Saturday.
The programme is in collaboration with the Anambra Government and executed by the National Social Investment Programme and the State Cash Transfer Unit.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar-Farouq, inaugurated the programme.
She said the initiative was part of the Federal Government’s policy to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty within 10 years.
Represented by Mr Kingsley Ngene, Special Adviser Administration in the Ministry, Umar-Farouq explained that 7, 000 households in Nigeria would benefit from the scheme.
She advised the Anambra people to always get involved in numerous social intervention programmes of the Federal Government, to benefit like other Nigerians.
The minister explained that the programme was a support grant of N500, 000 to the vulnerable households affected by banditry and internally displaced persons.
“The grant is designed to empower the beneficiaries to improve their productivity, create wealth, generate employment and increase their commercial activities which are aimed at lifting them out of poverty,” Umar-Farouq said.
Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra, represented by the state Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs Ify Obinabo, noted that the state was working round the clock to make Anambra people comfortable.
She said that the present administration would continue to partner the Federal Government and other groups to open more windows of opportunities to the people.
Mr Raphael Enukorah, Head of Anambra State Cash Transfer Unit, advised the beneficiaries to judiciously use the money on ventures that would improve their living conditions.
He appreciated the state and federal governments for their various efforts in ensuring the success of the interventions, saying that his office would ensure that the right persons benefitted from the programmes.
The State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs Chiamaka Nnakie, expressed dissatisfaction over the poor interest on the part of the Anambra people in social intervention programmes of the Federal Government.
Nnakie encouraged the people to always apply, to benefit like other Nigerians, noting that the present administration under President Muhammadu Buhari was doing a lot to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that most of the enrollees confirmed that they received alerts of N50, 000 grants during the event.
Some of them, Mr Albert Emene from Orumba South, Mrs Nkiruka Okeke from Anaocha, and Mr Ejike Chukwuebuka from Ayamelum Local Government Area, expressed happiness over the intervention.
“I initially felt the programme was a scam the first time I was told about it, but with this alert, I must sincerely thank Mr President and assured you that I will use the money judiciously,” Okeke said.
