"Nigeria’s Social Initiatives Empower 15 Million Households, Addresses Global Crises at UN Assembly
Abuja (EPICSTORIAN) – The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Isa Kwarra, announced that 15 million Nigerian households are benefiting from the Federal Government’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme.
This initiative, under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, according to NPC chair, aims to address extreme poverty, food insecurity, malnutrition, and inequality in alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Speaking at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Kwarra reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to social development policies designed to uplift the vulnerable and eradicate poverty.
“The world is facing multidimensional challenges, ones which no single nation can solve alone,” Kwarra stated.
He congratulated the UN General Assembly on its theme, “Unity and Diversity for Advancing Peace, Sustainable Development, and Human Dignity,” emphasizing that much remains to be done to fulfill the promise of the SDGs by 2030.
Kwarra’s address highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to build a globally competitive economy that includes the most vulnerable citizens in all development programs.
NPC Boss Notes Nigeria Tackles Poverty Through Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, other initiatives
As part of this approach, the government has rolled out the National Social Safety Nets Project under the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA), targeting extreme poverty reduction, food security, and education improvements.
The project has already impacted millions of Nigerians through its four core programs: N-POWER, the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), and the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme (CCT).
The CCT initiative recently expanded to cover an additional 15 million households, furthering the government’s goal to alleviate poverty and support vulnerable families across the country. Kwarra acknowledged the enormous challenges facing the global community, citing the accumulation of economic, social, and climate crises as significant obstacles to global development efforts. He urged member states to collaborate more effectively to implement policies that promote self-reliance and sustainable growth, warning that many developing nations are nearing famine levels.
Nigeria Expands Social Safety Nets for Vulnerable Families Nationwide
Kwarra also spoke about Nigeria’s recent social development achievements, including the launch of the Access to Tertiary Education Act (Student Loan Act), which aims to provide interest-free loans to students from low-income households. “This law ensures that no student drops out due to financial constraints,” Kwarra said, adding that the policy would improve enrollment and learning outcomes across the country. The Nigerian government also plans to host a National Youth Conference to encourage young people to actively participate in nation-building efforts and shape policies that will impact their future.
While celebrating Nigeria’s domestic successes, Kwarra acknowledged the many challenges still confronting the world, including terrorism, armed conflict, inequality, and the ongoing impacts of climate change. He reiterated Nigeria’s stance on peace and security, calling for greater international collaboration to end protracted conflicts and protect civilians, particularly women and children caught in war zones.
“The UN stands for inclusiveness anchored on peace, sustainable development, and human rights,” Kwarra declared, stressing the importance of conflict prevention in achieving the UN’s mission. He condemned the humanitarian crises around the world, urging the international community to come together to address these issues and promote global unity.
Kwarra concluded his speech by calling for stronger partnerships between UN member states, agencies, and partners to tackle the world’s multiple crises and build resilience for a more equitable future. “We must work together to eradicate poverty and secure a better future for all,” he stated.
The News Summaries:
1. Nigerian government, especially President Tinubu’s administration, has put several initiatives in helping alleviate poverty, which include introducing the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme.
Also Read: FG Launches Fiscal Incentives to boost Nigeria’s deep offshore oil & Gas production
2. Additional 15 Million Households will Benefit from CCT, according to the Nigerian official during UNGA Session.
3. NPC Chairman Addresses Global Challenges, touching on the United Nations expectation of global results since the launch of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
