NSIPs: Nigeria earmarks over $1bn annually to protect poor, most vulnerable groups ― Farouq

Ongoing efforts aimed at ensuring effective implementation of National Social Investment Programmes (NSIPs) gained traction on Thursday, as Federal Government flagged off the training for Mobile Money Agents beneficiaries across the country.

The ‘Life skills and entrepreneurship development training programme for 350 Mobile Money Agents beneficiaries in the FCT and North Central Zone, was declared open by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, in Abuja.

According to her, “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 $1 billion earmarked annually to cause positive change in the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable in the country.

“Since its introduction in 2016, the programme 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 12 million households have benefitted from NSIP interventions in the last 5 years.”

The Minister who assured that all the NSIPs are being restructured and revamped to respond to peculiarities of different parts of the country, to ensure the right beneficiaries are targeted, and to enhance the impact on target beneficiaries, observed that President Muhammadu Buhari has graciously approved the expansion of the programme to touch more lives and lift more Nigerians above the poverty breadline.

She explained that the Mobile Money Agents’ training will enable target beneficiaries to meet the minimum technical and business requirements for becoming mobile money agents and enhance their entrepreneurial competencies to successfully start and manage mobile money businesses.

According to her, upon completion of the training, the target beneficiaries be registered with the Shared Agency Network Expansion Facility (SANEF) as Mobile Money Agents and be provided with Start-up Kits that include a Point-of-Sale (POS) Machine, Fingerprint Scanner and Furniture (chairs, tables and umbrellas) as well as a modest capital of N20,000.”

In his remarks, Permanent Secretary noted that the strategic journey which started not quite long was the newest programme added to the stream of programmes under the NSIPs.

According to the Organisers, the Mobile Money Agency programme targets 1,850 unemployed youths that have a positive mind and drive for self-employment across the 36 States of the federation and FCT.

Tribune Online gathered that the target beneficiaries are to be trained by experts from the Shared Agent Network Expansion Facilities (SANEF) and others hired by the six consulting firms engaged by the Ministry.

SANEF is an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that aims to promote financial inclusion. SANEF is supported by Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems (NIBSS) and Licensed Mobile Money Operators/Shared Agents.

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NSIPs: Nigeria earmarks over $1bn annually to protect poor, most vulnerable groups ― Farouq