By Chimezie Godfrey
The Federal Government has intensified efforts to transition millions of Nigerians from social assistance to economic independence, as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, engaged beneficiaries under the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer (HoPE-CT) Programme in Kwara State.
This was contained in a statement issued on April 25, 2026, by Janet McDickson Noah, Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, who said the engagement forms part of a nationwide strategy to deepen accountability and refine Nigeria’s social protection framework.
According to the statement, the engagement is one of several ongoing consultations across the six geopolitical zones aimed at assessing programme impact, harvesting real-time feedback, and ensuring that government interventions are aligned with the lived realities of beneficiaries.
Quoting the Minister, the statement noted that, “governance must be responsive and grounded in the lived realities of citizens,” adding that “policies designed from afar cannot fully capture the challenges faced at the grassroots.”
Doro emphasised the importance of direct engagement, declaring, “I needed to come down myself—to see, to hear, and to understand what is working and what must change,” stressing that firsthand interaction provides insights that cannot be captured in official reports.
The Minister further clarified that the HoPE-CT Programme is not merely a cash disbursement initiative but a long-term economic empowerment strategy designed to help vulnerable households transition to self-reliance.
“Government support must not end at disbursement; it must translate into measurable progress, improved livelihoods, and ultimately, self-reliance,” he said, underscoring a shift from welfare dependency to structured economic empowerment.
The statement also highlighted the Ministry’s evolving policy direction under the “One Humanitarian – One Poverty Response System,” which aims to harmonise social protection interventions into a unified, data-driven framework.
Doro explained that the system is being designed to eliminate fragmentation and create a seamless pathway for beneficiaries to move “from vulnerability to resilience and ultimately exit poverty in a structured and sustainable manner.”
Addressing concerns about discrepancies in beneficiary data, the Minister clarified that variations across programme phases are largely due to validation mechanisms, particularly the National Identification Number process.
“These figures should not be interpreted as entirely separate populations,” he said, explaining that “beneficiary transitions across phases are influenced by verification and validation processes.”
Responding to testimonies from participants, the Minister assured that feedback would shape ongoing reforms.
“The ministry is committed to ensuring that interventions are not only delivered but monitored to guarantee real and lasting impact,” he said.
He further disclosed that the next phase of implementation would focus on linking cash transfers to complementary interventions such as skills acquisition, livelihood development, and cooperative systems.
“These are critical in enabling beneficiaries to transition towards economic independence,” he stated.
The Kwara State Commissioner for Social Development, Dr. Mariam Nnafatima Imam, commended the Federal Government’s sustained commitment, describing the programme as “a critical intervention that has significantly improved the welfare of vulnerable households and strengthened social inclusion.”
Similarly, the Acting General Manager of KWASSIP, Dr. Abdulwasiu Olayinka Tejidini, and the Commissioner for Communications, Hon. Bolanle Olukoju, praised the initiative, noting that it has “restored dignity, improved livelihoods, and strengthened community resilience.”
A major highlight of the event was the testimonial session, where beneficiaries shared personal transformation stories.
One of the beneficiaries, Abubakar Olayinka from Ilorin South, said, “the support enabled me to start a small-scale pure water business, which has now become a steady source of income for my family.”