FG launches restructured GEEP 2.0

Federal Government has officially launched the restructured Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme 2.0, now known as the GEEP 2.0, an initiative structured to effectively deliver soft loans and skills to a wide range of unemployed citizens.

GEEP 2.0 is also a  restructured version of GEEP and was revamped in line with President Buhari administration’s mission of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next ten years.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development,Sadiya Umar Farouq launched the Programme in Abuja, Nigeria.

She said GEEP 2.0 an improved version of GEEP, targets the unbanked poor and vulnerable, but skilled population that were left out on credit delivery programmes and to provide soft and affordable loans to finance their businesses.

” You are aware that the National Social Investment Programme, NSIP, consists of poverty reduction intervention clusters approved by the Federal Government in 2016 and in 2019 the programme was transferred to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development for institutionalisation, supervision and coordination”.

“The NSIP clusters, includes; the NPOWER, the GEEP, the CCT and the NHGSFP, which collectively have so far impacted over 12 million households since inception and the numbers are growing,” she disclosed

According to her, the GEEP programme is a veritable tool designed to end poverty in many ways and is innovatively targeted and delivered under three unique products.

“The TraderMoni for marginalized youth, The MarketMoni targets vulnerable women, and the FarmerMoni specifically focuses on rural populace. With Mr. President’s gracious approval to expand and provide loans to an additional 1,000,000 beneficiaries, with emphasis to targeting small holder farmers in the year 2020/2021, the GEEP has been restructured and is being flagged-off today as GEEP 2.0,″ she noted.

According to her, the Programme is also designed to include Persons living With Disability, marginalized women and unemployed youth among other vulnerable groups in our society.

 “Others include empowering Nigerian farmers especially the rural farmers; rapid scale-up of Farmer Moni to agroprenuership to increase agricultural produce, food security and job creation; Market Moni will specially focus on under-privileged and marginalized woman in the communities.

”The Trader Moni will target empowerment and uplifting under-privileged and vulnerable youth like the scavengers, market wheelbarrow boys, orphans and youth with special needs,” the minister added.

Technical Assistant to the Minister on GEEP, Zainab Musa Musawa, said the programme was restructured to target more people at the bottom of the economic pyramid who are mostly women, youth and rural farmers.

The Technical Assistant further stated that through sensitization, mobilization and participation, GEEP 2.0 beneficiaries will be effectively supervised and monitored by desk officers.

According to her, the Desk Officers have already been deployed to all the 774 Local Government Areas of the Federation, by in partnership with the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

“Essentially, GEEP 2.0 is a continuation of the Buhari administration’s laudable empowerment drive committed to the upliftment of oppressed Nigerians.  We hope the programme will engender job creation, poverty alleviation, youth empowerment as well as enrich entrepreneurial skills acquisition amongst vulnerable groups”.

 “I believe under the supervision of the amiable and hardworking Hon. Minister, the Perm Secretary and senior management of the Ministry, GEEP 2.0 will meet or perhaps surpass the target of empowering 20 million Nigerians by 2023,″ Musawa stated.

Also speaking at the event, the Director General, National Orientation Agency, Garba Abari said the Agency would work with State Programme Managers  and focal Persons toward the success of GEEP 2.0.