By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq on behalf of the Federal Government has flagged off the NEXIT/CBN Agri-Business Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme for over 460,000 exited N-Power beneficiaries of Batches A and B.
According to a press release signed by Nneka Ikem Anibeze SA Media to the Minister made available to Daybreak, the flag off the scheme yesterday at the Radio House in Abuja.
The statement read that out of the 467,183 trainees who indicated interest, 75,600 will participate in the first phase of the orientation programme expected to lead up to collection of loans of up to three million Naira from the Central Bank of Nigeria if they qualify.
Permanent Secretary Bashir Nura Alkali who represented the Minister thanked Mr President for his unwavering efforts in eradicating poverty in the country and for supporting and sustaining the National Social Investment Programmes.
Farouq who congratulated the 467,183 trainees who indicated interest in the NEXIT CBN AGSMEIS programme from the 500,000 batches A and B exited beneficiaries noted that it would be replicated in all the 36 states and the FCT.
“ It has been my desire that the exited batches A and B N-Power graduate beneficiaries will not be left unattended to. In different channels, I kept on assuring these teaming youths that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has worked very closely with the Central Bank of Nigeria to realize this dream.”
“Today marks the beginning of the fulfilment of this awaited training that will enable those beneficiaries that indicated interest to participate in the CBN empowerment programme.”
“For ease of coordination, this training programme will be conducted in phases. Let me also inform you that all the 36 States and FCT are participating in this long awaited NEXIT training programme. A total of 75,600 participants are in this first batch of the training. We will continue to train the remaining batches in no distant time. ”
The Minister further reiterated the ministry’s commitment to ensuring that the strategic objectives of all the social intervention programmes are harnessed to achieve the desired goals and objectives.
“The N-Power programme she noted is a critical part of the National Social Investment Programmes in the ministry designed to achieve the National objectives of poverty reduction and job creation.
The N-Power programme is designed to helping young Nigerians acquire and develop life-long skills that ensure they become solution providers and entrepreneurs in their communities, she emphasized.
Permanent Secretary who was represented by the Director Planning, Research and Statistics Raphael Oraeluno charged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the opportunity.
“IAs beneficiaries, you will be equipped with the necessary training that will guarantee your participation in the CBN package meant for this purpose.”
The National Coordinator, National Social Investment Programmes Dr Umar Bindir urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the CBN package to be self reliant.
At the end of the five day training, beneficiaries who qualify will receive Loans of up to three million Naira with a maximum tenure of seven years.
