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By Madu Obi
The Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Economic Planning had said that the federal government's programme to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next decade is still on course.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Vitalis Obi gave the figure at the Evaluative Workshop with beneficiaries and implementers of the National Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy. NPRGS, programme in Awka.
According to Obi, the Awka meeting provides a crucial platform for reflection, learning, and dialogue on the successes, challenges, and lessons learned from the implementation of the NPRGS.
He said that the interaction provided the beneficiaries the opportunity to chart a way forward for strengthening the programme and maximizing its impact on poverty reduction and economic development in Nigeria.
The main areas of interest of the beneficiaries include fisheries, confectionaries, solar installation, dry season farming and their concern is how to raise capital to invest in their businesses.
Obi stated that the good thing is that the early beneficiaries are training more people and making them rich and helped in job creation
He said: "The NPRGS is a key government initiative designed to accelerate national development by lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within a decade, through four core pillars namely: macroeconomic stabilization, industrialization, trade and growth, and redistributive programmes.
It reaffirms the Federal Government's unwavering commitment to fostering inclusive economic growth, job creation and national prosperity. In alignment with these goals, the programme has been strategically implemented through five critical components.
He listed the major components to include:
* Agriculture for Food and Job Programme, (AEJP), which enhances food security and rural employment by providing smallholder farmers with improved agricultural inputs, training, and financial support;
*Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme, which equips young Nigerians with employable skills for self-reliance and sustainable job creation;
*Rural Roads Construction Programme, which expands connectivity and improving market access for rural communities to drive local economies;
*Productivity Improvement Programme to strengthen micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to foster innovation and economic resilience; and
*Training and Skill Acquisition Programme to empower citizens with essential vocational skills to enhance sustainable livelihoods and reduce unemployment."
He said that the recent field evaluation carried out highlighted a 25-30% increase in crop yields, as well as over 60% of Technical and Vocational Education and Training graduates securing employment or starting their businesses.
This, he added, enhanced rural road infrastructure, which has significantly boosted economic activities and access to essential services.
Obi said: "The programme has made so much impact on the beneficiaries as it has brought them out of poverty. We, in the Ministry, are delighted at the resilience the beneficiaries have shown in their efforts to improve their standard of living.
They have become economically viable and this is in line with the policy of the present administration to empower the people."
The Director, National Monitoring and Evaluation, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Olasunbo Ayinde - Yakub, said one of its mandates is to track and report on the performance of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAS) with regards to the implementation of government policies, programmes and projects through the National Monitoring and Evaluation (NM&E) Department.
She said that the evaluative workshop is essential to assess the Impact, efficiency, and sustainability of the intervention, specifically the impact on the life of the beneficiaries and communities.
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