Over the years, many Nigerians have been left
unemployed as they continue to struggle for
Survival.
This is not because they are not mentally fit
or physically qualified to tie down a job and
eke out a living to Support themselves and
their significant others, but because
successive governments have in the past not
lived up to their promises of job and wealth
creation.
Apart from the monotonous employment
routine of the various ministries and
parastatals which has turned out to be
inadequate in catering for the ever increasing
population of Nigerians between the ages of
18 and 35, no serious efforts were made in
the past to open up other veritable means for
employment opportunities.
These tasks have been left to the private
sector while government acted as if all was
well. No wonder, many Nigerians have given
up to seek greener pasture in other countries.
While battling with the attendant brain drain
and an unproductive population, the creative
and manufacturing industries have been the
worst hit in the process, turning Nigeria into a
consuming economy.
Due to the lip service paid to electoral
promises by previous administrations, many
were not really convinced about President
Muhammadu Buhari's promises of
addressing the problem of unemployment
while campaigning in 2015
But true to his words, immediately he was
sworn in, efforts were made to fulfil his 2015
electoral promise on job creation for Nigerian
youths which overtime gave birth to N-Power
scheme.
Through the N-power programme, 500,000
jobs have been created in farming, agro-
processing, financial literacy, communication,
digital skills amongsta host of others
No wonder, in the past one year, the effect on
the economy has been so drastic with the
agricultural sector receiving a major boost
and the capacity of the nation to feed her-self.
According to statistics, rice importation has
dropped by 95% amongst other agricultural
produce, hence the nation's ability to be self-
sustaining even before the Covid-19 global
lockdowvn.
Deep thoughts on how Nigeria would have
been able to cope with the crippling effects of
covid-19, its attendant economic implications
as well as inflation in prices of foodstuff as a
result of scarcity reverberate.
Under the watch of the Honourable Minister
of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster
Management and Social Development, Hajiya
Sadiya Umar Farouq, government has
stepped up effort in ensuring that more
Nigerians benefit from this laudable project.
According to recent statistics released, about
109,823 beneficiaries of the N-Power
programme have now started their Own
businesses which represent about 22% of the
500,000 Nigerians that have benefited from
this programme since its inception.
It means that government has not only
succeeded in creating jobs for its citizens, but
has also created more employers of labour.
It is reassuring to know that the Buhari-led
administration through the ministry, has
targeted 100 million Nigerians in the next 10
years through the creation of productive
opportunities for entrepreneurship and
employment.
No wonder, thousands of Nigerians on
Wednesday July 29, 2020 held a Thank You
Rally' march to the Presidential Villa over the
sUCcess of the N-Power scheme and other
Social Intervention Programmes in the
country which were further highlighted during
the covid-19 lockdown.
N- Power beneficiaries drawn from across the
36 states of the federation and the FCT
expressed their gratitude for a job well done
in alleviating poverty, creating economic
opportunities and jobs.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster
Management and Social Development, Hajiya
Sadiya Farouq was singled out for her
numerous interventions targeted at the
vulnerable and less privileged groups in the
country which has gone a long way in giving
everybody a sense of belonging after many
Apart from the N-Power scheme, Farouq has
been able to kick start the National Home
Grown School Feeding Programme
NHGSFP), National Cash Transfer
Programme (NCTP) and Government
Enterprise and Empowermernt Programme
GEEP).
The National Home Grown School Feeding
Programme has so far catered for over 9
milion pupils in 24 states across Nigeria
while also creating additional 100,000 jobs for
those in the hospitality business.
It is on record that the implementation of the
National Cash Transfer Programme
introduced to cushion the economic effect of
the covid-19 lockdown has also recorded a
huge success.
20,000 naira was distributed across 20 states
in the 6 geo political zones while 297,973
caregivers have also been trained by 2,495
Community Facilitators.
The minister has shown a deep
understanding of the needs of the people
while introducing new innovations to meet
the unique everyday challenges of Nigerians.
She has proven to be a leader with the
interest of the people at heart and a deep
sense of commitment to the entrenchment of
sustainable growth and development through
laudable programs targeted at the grassroots
and rural communities.
As part of plans for post covid-19 life, the
Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster
Management and Social Development
recently announced the commencement of
enrolment for the batch C of the N-Power
program.
received.
To further highlight the landmark
achievements of the ministry, His Excellency,
Muhammadu Buhari in his Democracy Day
broadcast on June 12, 2020 took time out to
commend the ministry and its programmes
as he noted that the Social Investment
Programmes of the administration have
continued to be a model to other nations.
As part of plans for life post covid-19, the
Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster
Managerment and Social Development
recently announced the commencement of
enrolment for the batch C of the N-Power
program.
So far, over 5 million applications have been
received for the next batch to be evenly
distributed across the 774 local governments
in Nigeria.
Despite the huge achievements recorded by
the Ministry in the last one year, we must not
be carried away and forget the daunting task
of alleviating poverty, stemming
unemployment rate as well as improving the
living standards of Nigerians
However, Nigerians shoulad be rest assured
that if this level of consistency can be
maintained under the visionary leadership of
Hajiya Sadiya Umar Faroug, there will be light
at the end of the tunnel.
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