States get poverty eradication ministries, N4.5b for wealth creation
From Emeak Anuforo, Abuja
AS part of the campaign to mainstream the fight against poverty into activities across the country, all the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory now have their own poverty alleviation ministries.
The National Co-ordinator of the National Poverty Eradication Programme, Dr. Magnus Kpakol, who made this revelation during a briefing in Abuja recently, stressed that the feat was made possible through his agency's co-ordinating role.
He stated that NAPEP had also succeeded in building partnerships with organisations, the private sector and others, who are critical in the fight against poverty.
Kpakols said, "NAPEP's position over the years on the role of micro-finance as atoll for fighting poverty has today gain acceptability. NAPEP's position on the need for mass participation in the economic development process through the establishment of economic anchor projects in the rural areas is fast gaining currency."
He assured that NAPEP had gone through changes over the years to reposition it for better performance.
"In the past, NAPEP was seen as an organisation that sporadically intervened in certain areas of need as its method of fighting poverty, but over the years, NAPEP has distinguished itself as the apex government organisation that approaches the fight against poverty in a holistic manner.
In line with his, NAPEP of he future will engaged more in policy guide in the campaign to mainstream the issue of poverty across government institutions, sensitisation of critical stakeholders, building partnerships, linking the poor to sources of help, sensitisation of Nigerians in the Diaspora, sensitisation of states and local governments, data collection and analysis, campaign for the institutionalisation of village solutions trust fund and identification of anchor personalities in communities," he added.
Meanwhile, the sum of N4.5 billion has so far been released by the Federal Government to all the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory for the village economic development solutions (village solutions) programme of government.
Kpakol said, "the aim of the programme is to activate
economic activities in the rural communities through the establishment of economic anchor projects, taking advantage of the prevailing economic mainstay of each community.
According to him, "the emphasis of these projects is in the area of processing of primary products, which abound in every part of the country. Since 2007 when the Mr. President launched the programme, states have been sensitised to the efficiency of the scheme for poverty eradication. Thus, they have adopted the scheme and are partnering with NAPEP to implement it.
"So far, a sum of N4.5 billion has been released by the
Federal Government to all the states and FCT for the scheme. Thus, each state has received the sum of N121, 621, 622 that is being used as micro-credit for the implementation of the scheme.
While at least 22 states have made pledges towards provisions of matching fund for the scheme, advocacy visits and follow-ups are being made to the states so that they could make their financial contributions."
Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili at the briefing called on relevant stakeholders to join hands with NAPEP to create wealth for the nation's teeming population.
She said, "the poverty war is not that of NAPEP alone. All ministries and agencies of government have roles to play. The truth is that the more people, who are poor, the more uncomfortable those, who are rich would be."
