FG to Link Cash Transfers to Skills, Cooperatives Under New Poverty Exit Plan
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s social protection and creating a structured pathway for poverty exit.
According to a statement by Mrs Janet McDickson, the Ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, he spoke while leading a Beneficiary and Stakeholder Engagement under the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer, HoPE-CT, Programme in Kwara State.
The engagement is part of a nationwide tour across the six geopolitical zones to assess programme performance, get direct feedback from beneficiaries, and ensure policy decisions reflect grassroots realities. It aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to people-centred interventions that promote dignity, resilience, and long-term economic stability.
Addressing beneficiaries, government officials, development partners, Civil Society Organisations and community leaders, the Minister underscored the importance of direct engagement in shaping policy, noting that governance must be responsive and grounded in citizens’ lived realities, particularly beneficiaries of social protection.
“I needed to come down myself — to see, to hear, and to understand what is working and what must change,” the Minister said. He added that firsthand engagement provides insights that reports alone cannot capture and ensures programmes remain responsive, accountable, and impactful.
The Minister stressed that the HoPE-CT Programme is not just a disbursement mechanism but a strategic intervention to support vulnerable households and lay the foundation for long-term economic empowerment. “Government support must not end at disbursement; it must translate into measurable progress, improved livelihoods, and self-reliance,” he said.
Dr. Doro explained the Ministry’s direction under the One Humanitarian – One Poverty Response System, designed to eliminate fragmentation and ensure interventions are coordinated, data-driven, and outcome-focused, adding that the system will create a pathway for beneficiaries to transition from vulnerability to resilience and exit poverty sustainably.
He also addressed misconceptions on beneficiary figures across tranches and clarified that transitions across phases are influenced by validation mechanisms, including the National Identification Number, NIN, and do not represent entirely separate populations.
Responding to testimonies, the Minister assured beneficiaries that their feedback would be documented and integrated into programme refinements. He reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to monitoring interventions to guarantee lasting impact.
Dr. Doro emphasized that the next phase will strengthen linkages between cash support and complementary interventions such as livelihood development, skills acquisition and cooperative structures to enable beneficiaries transition to economic independence.
He said the Ministry will continue working with state governments, development partners and community stakeholders to ensure social protection interventions are effectively delivered, transparently managed and aligned with lifting Nigerians out of poverty.
As the nationwide engagement continues, he added that the Ministry will focus on building a unified, responsive and results-driven system that supports vulnerable populations and empowers them to achieve sustainable livelihoods.
In her welcome remarks, Kwara State Commissioner for Social Development, Dr. Mariam Imam commended the Federal Government for its commitment to social protection and the HoPE-CT Programme. She described it as a critical intervention that has improved the welfare of vulnerable households and strengthened social inclusion.
Dr. Imam reaffirmed the State Government’s commitment to deeper collaboration with the Federal Ministry to expand programme reach, enhance delivery, and ensure benefits reach communities.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Acting General Manager, Kwara State Social Investment Programme, KWASSIP, Dr. Abdulwasiu Olayinka Tejidini, and Commissioner for Communications, Hon. Bolanle Olukoju. Both applauded the Federal Government’s efforts in strengthening social protection systems.
All speakers noted that the HoPE-CT Programme has provided financial relief to vulnerable households, restored dignity, improved livelihoods, and strengthened community resilience. They emphasized sustaining and expanding interventions for broader reach and long-term impact.
A highlight was the interactive session where beneficiaries shared firsthand accounts of the programme’s impact.
Abubakar Olayinka of Balogun Fulani Ward, Ilorin South LGA, said he used the support to establish a small-scale pure water business that now sustains his household. He thanked the Government and urged it to sustain and expand the programme.
Another beneficiary said the support enabled her to purchase medication for her ailing father, describing it as timely and life-saving. She said treatment would have been extremely difficult without the assistance and commended Government for prioritising vulnerable families.
The event was attended by Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Hauwa Nuru; Chairman, House Committee on Social Development, Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Olushola Odetundun; representatives of development partners, traditional rulers, community leaders, and senior government officials.
