By Popoola Jamiu, Abeokuta
Beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer (HoPE-CT) Programme in Ogun State have been urged to invest the funds received in income-generating ventures that will improve their standard of living and ensure long-term financial stability.
The Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Mrs Funmi Soyoye-Baker, gave the advice during the ongoing mop-up distribution of HoPE-CT debit cards to beneficiaries in Ogun Central Senatorial District at the Abeokuta South Local Government Secretariat, Ake, Abeokuta.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Soyoye-Baker cautioned them against spending the money on non-essential items, stressing that the intervention was designed to cushion the impact of economic hardship, promote financial inclusion and empower vulnerable households to become economically self-reliant.
She encouraged beneficiaries to invest the funds in small-scale businesses, agriculture or other productive ventures that could generate sustainable income, support their families and contribute to the state’s economic development.
The permanent secretary described the programme as a strategic intervention aimed at reducing poverty and improving the welfare of vulnerable Nigerians.
She explained that the mop-up exercise was organised to give eligible beneficiaries who missed the initial week-long distribution across the state’s 20 local government areas another opportunity to collect their debit cards.
“The mop-up exercise is meant to provide a second-chance opportunity for eligible beneficiaries who were absent during the week-long distribution exercise across the 20 local government areas to access and claim their debit cards,” she said.
She added that the Payment Service Provider, alongside state and local government implementation teams, would remain available for another two to three days to attend to beneficiaries across the three senatorial districts.
Soyoye-Baker also commended the Ogun State Government for providing the support and enabling environment necessary for the successful implementation of the programme, assuring that the distribution process would continue in a transparent and orderly manner.
Also speaking, the Head of Operations, State Cash Transfer Unit, Mrs Eniolawun Oluwakemi, assured beneficiaries that the implementation team remained committed to the successful execution of the programme in the state. She urged recipients to make prudent use of the funds to improve their livelihoods.
The Supervisor for Community and Social Welfare in Abeokuta South Local Government, Barrister Kehinde Ayodeji, commended President Bola Tinubu for introducing the intervention, saying it had provided much-needed support to vulnerable Nigerians and demonstrated the dividends of democracy at the grassroots.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Mabayoje Hannah and Mr Olasile Oluwayemi expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and the programme coordinators for the orderly conduct of the exercise. They pledged to invest the funds in small-scale businesses to strengthen their financial capacity and improve their livelihoods.