The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening people-centred social protection programmes aimed at reducing poverty and improving the livelihoods of vulnerable Nigerians.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, gave the assurance during the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer (HoPE CT) Beneficiary and Stakeholder Engagement held at the Ahiajoku Convention Centre in Owerri, Imo State.
CASH TRANSFER PROGRAM (HOPE-CT)
The engagement brought together beneficiaries, government officials, traditional rulers, development partners, community representatives, and other stakeholders to assess the impact of the HoPE CT Programme across the state.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Doro said the Federal Government remained committed to ensuring that social protection interventions are driven by transparency, accountability, and direct engagement with beneficiaries.
According to him, social intervention programmes should be evaluated not only by statistics but by the tangible impact they make in the lives of citizens.
“Leadership must remain connected to impact. Reports and statistics are important, but there is no substitute for hearing directly from the people whose lives these interventions are designed to improve,” the Minister stated.
He disclosed that Imo State has recorded significant participation under the programme, with 278,727 households across the state’s 27 Local Government Areas benefiting from cash transfer support totaling over ₦6.6 billion.
Dr. Doro explained that the beneficiary engagement was part of a nationwide initiative designed to provide government with firsthand information on programme performance, identify implementation challenges, and gather recommendations for policy improvement.
The Minister assured participants that concerns and suggestions raised during the engagement would be incorporated into ongoing programme reviews to strengthen implementation and expand the programme’s impact.
He also reminded beneficiaries that the HoPE CT Programme is entirely free and urged them to report any cases of extortion, misconduct, or irregularities through established grievance redress mechanisms.
“What we are building is not just a programme, but a system that supports people, strengthens resilience, and creates sustainable pathways out of poverty,” he added.
A major highlight of the event was an interactive session during which beneficiaries shared personal testimonies on how the intervention had improved their lives.
Many beneficiaries recounted using the funds to pay school fees, purchase fertilizer and farming inputs, expand small-scale businesses, improve household welfare, and meet urgent family needs. They described the programme as impactful and appealed for its continuation and expansion to reach more vulnerable Nigerians.
In a symbolic gesture of appreciation, beneficiaries presented locally produced palm oil to the Minister in recognition of the positive impact of the programme on their communities. The presentation drew applause from participants and underscored the beneficiaries’ gratitude to the Federal Government.
Earlier, the Imo State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Chief Kenneth Okafor, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction for sustaining social protection initiatives across the country.
He noted that the HoPE CT Programme has contributed significantly to livelihood support, food security, educational assistance, household welfare, and grassroots economic development in Imo State.
Okafor also reaffirmed the commitment of the Imo State Government under Governor Hope Uzodimma to continued collaboration with the Federal Government in advancing social protection and poverty reduction efforts.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of Local Government Chairmen, the Chairman of Orsu Local Government Area, Hon. Ibekaeme Friday Umunakwe, praised the Federal Government for the intervention, noting that many beneficiaries had experienced meaningful improvements in their livelihoods.
He appealed for the continuation and expansion of the programme to enable more vulnerable citizens benefit from government support.
The engagement ended with renewed commitments from stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and support the effective implementation of social protection programmes aimed at promoting inclusive development and sustainable poverty reduction in Imo State and across Nigeria.
