The Lagos State Government has trained over 100 NG-Cares cash-transfer facilitators on the use of digital gadgets to capture and validate the beneficiaries of the programme.
The NG-Cares programme, which is a Nigerian COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus, is an emergency operation designed to support a budgeted programme of expenditure and intervention at the state level, targeting existing and emerging vulnerable and poor households, agricultural value chains, and micro and small enterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Chief (Mrs.) Yetunde Arobieke said that the training for NG-Cares cash transfer facilitator enrollment was organised by the Ministry to realise its considerable potential and to fulfil the Federal Government’s commitment to lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty over a period of 10 years.
According to her, “As part of the institutional arrangement, the cash transfer facilitators who are drawn from the Local Government and Local Council Development Areas where the targeted beneficiaries were validated must be enrolled by the cash transfer facilitators into the NG-Cares programme. Hence, the need for enrollment training on the utilisation of digital gadgets to capture and validate the beneficiaries”.
While pointing out the readiness of the State Government to ensure the success of the programme, the Commissioner noted that the State Cash Transfer Unit (SCTU), being the delivery platform assigned to implement social transfer to 2,145 beneficiaries in the seven targeted Local Governments of Lagos Mainland, Kosofe, Eti-Osa, Agboyi-Ketu, Ikosi-Isheri, Iru-Victoria Island and Yaba has mapped out strategies for the implementation of the programme.
Earlier, the State Coordinator of the programme, Mrs. Lola Orimogunje disclosed that the programme was designed for people affected by COVID-19 to cushion their loss and bring them back on track in their various businesses.
She added that the programme would mostly benefit artisans, the aged and people living with disabilities that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A facilitator at the event, Mr. Abdulfatai Ajibola Are, noted that the NG-Cares is a form of support to the people affected by COVID-19, stressing that the stipend they would be getting will help foot some bills and provide for their families.
