Beneficiaries of the National Social Investment Programme in Abia State on Tuesday walked round the major streets of Umuahia, the State Capital on a thank you rally for President Muhammadu Buhari.
Recall that the Federal Government of Nigeria had in 2016 established the National Social Investments Programmes (NSIP) to tackle poverty and hunger in states across the federation.
The rally done simultaneously across the nation, kick-started at Ibeku High School, Umuahia, witnessed beneficiaries of the programme drawn from various clusters in the 17 LGAs of Abia State recount their success stories since the commencement of the programme.
Addressing the Beneficiaries, the State Focal Person on Social Investment Programme, Mr Chinenye Nwogu, said Abia state is joining other states of the Federation in thanking President Muhammadu Buhari for coming up with the programme which according to him, has impacted many families across the 36 States of the federation.
He informed that the programme was introduced to address the needs of poor and vulnerable people in Nigeria, adding that it has many streams including: Conditional Cash Transfer, Government Business Empowerment Programme (Geep 2.0), Npower, School Feeding Programme, among others.
Mr. Chinenye Nwogu lauded the President Muhammadu led Federal Government for graciously including Abia State notwithstanding that she is not an APC state, saying that the programme has given lifeline to a whole lot of Abians while calling for its sustenance.
He also commended the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouk, for superintending the programme and ensuring that the beneficiaries get their money directly, pointing out that the Ministry has been transparent in the disbursement.
Mr. Chinenye Nwogu, who noted that social investment is impactful as long as the Governor supports it, thanked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and his wife, Dr. Nkechi Ikpeazu for their support in ensuring that the programme records success in the State.
In their separate speeches, Head of Unit, Conditional Cash Transfer, Mr Okeziem Nwoko, represented by the Head of Operations, Mrs Nwafor Obianuju, Programmes Manager, Government Business Empowerment Programme (Geep 2.0), Mrs Ogechi Oguama and the Programmes Manager, School Feeding Programme, Mr. Chukwuemeka Ahuruonye, all reported the various success stories they have recorded, thanking President Muhammadu Buhari for touching their lives just as they lauded Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and his wife, Dr. Nkechi Ikpeazu for taking the programme seriously.
A beneficiary of the programme, Mrs Ogunka Christiana, recounted how impactful the social intervention programme has been since inception, appreciating President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor of Abia State Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and his wife, Dr. Nkechi Ikpeazu for making sure that Abia takes leading role in the implementation of the programme.
