Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has announced the establishment of the state’s Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
Bello said the creation of the ministry aligned with the vision of the administration of President Bola Tinubu, encapsulated in the ‘Renewed Hope agenda’, which he said aims to uplift 50 million Nigerians from poverty annually.
The governor made the announcement during the commencement of the Federal Government’s Grant for Vulnerable program under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation at the Government House in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, on Tuesday, December 5, 2023.
He stated that the necessary legal framework and legislative authority for the creation of the ministry had already been meticulously addressed.
He said the Grant for Vulnerable Groups, specifically targeted at the most economically disadvantaged members of the society, will provide beneficiaries with a cash sum of N20,000.
Governor Bello, while commending President Tinubu’s visionary approach and commitment to combating poverty in Nigeria, said the grant would effectively contribute to the administration’s goal of pulling millions of Nigerians out of the poverty.
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Bello further listed the various initiatives undertaken by his administration to reduce and eliminate poverty in Kogi State to include free education in primary and secondary schools, quarterly distribution of food palliatives, and free healthcare program for pregnant women and children.
The governor added that the state government has undertaken the responsibility of covering examination fees for public school students, releasing funds such as the N497 million disbursed for the 2024 WAEC fees in October.
Governor Bello attributed these policies to his administration’s ‘Zero-out-School-Children’ initiative, which he said has yielded substantial results.
He expressed confidence that the Governor-elect, Usman Ododo, would build upon his achievements and strengthen ties with the federal and local governments for the welfare of the people of Kogi State.
Speaking at the event, the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, congratulated the beneficiaries and commended Kogi women for supporting the APC-led administration at both the federal and state levels.
She noted that, beyond the Grant for Vulnerable Groups, the federal government had implemented over 20 social programs targeting poverty alleviation, food security, and human capital development.
The minister revealed that, as part of the inaugural phase in Kogi State, a total of 3,000 individuals benefited from the program.
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