Date: 2018-05-11

A total of 14, 444 vulnerable and less privileged persons across the 16 local government areas of Kwara have so far benefitted from the Federal Government's National Cash Transfer Programme (NCTP).

Mrs Dolly Amina Yahaya, the programme Head of Unit in Kwara, gave the figure during the distribution of cash to beneficiaries in Ilofa, Oke-Ero Local Government Area of the state on Thursday.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NCTP is a component of the Federal Government's National Social Safety Nets Project.

The project, which commenced in September 2016, is being implemented in collaboration with the World Bank.

It was designed to address social challenges facing the country.

Yayaha said the number of beneficiaries covered the programme's seven payment circles from December 2016 to January 2018.

She said the payment in Ilofa was part of the eight payment circle, which commenced on April 16 in the state.

Yahaya disclosed that the programme was currently being implemented in 20 out of the 36 states of the federation with 297, 973 beneficiaries.

She said that through the programme, the Federal Government had injected over N670 million into the state's economy since its inception about a year ago.

She expressedmdelight that the programme had lived up to its expectations of making positive impact on the life of the people, especially those at the grassroot.

Yahaya said, "The programme focuses on the poor and vulnerable in Nigeria as identified through a combination of geographic and community-based targeting mechanism.

"We have a successful story to tell in Kwara, having started with 12 councils at the initial stage and now active in all the 16 councils of the state.

"Every beneficiaries is entitled to a N5,000 stipend, payable on bi-monthly basis and this has really improved their capacities in many ways," she said.

Also speaking, Dr. Temitope Sinkaye, the national coordinator of the programme, said that aside from the cash transfer, the programme was designed to build the capacity of Nigerians to become self-reliant.

Sinkaye, who was represented by Mr Terna Henry Ayede, the Communication Officer, National Social Investment Office, Abuja, expressed satisfaction with the achievements so far recorded by the programme. He said, "Aside payment of stipend to beneficiaries, another major component of the programme is capacity building.

"Beneficiaries are trained on Life Skills, Savings Group Mobilization and Micro Business Development.

"The essence is to strengthen their source of livelihood so that they can contribute their share to the state and national economy," Sinkaye said.

One of the beneficiaries, Janet Atowomole, said the initiative had helped to boost her economy and standard of living. (NAN)