The Nigerian Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening social protection delivery across the country, as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard M. Doro, led a delegation to Ondo State, Southwest Nigeria.
His visit was for the HoPE-CT Beneficiary Engagement under the National Social Safety Nets Project – Scale Up (NASSP-SU).
The Minister emphasised the need for government interventions to go beyond policy formulation to real impact at the grassroots.
“It is not enough to design policies from afar; we must come to the communities, listen to the people, and ensure that what we are doing is truly making a difference in their lives.”
He further stressed that the Ministry is working towards a more coordinated and impactful system of intervention.
“Our goal is to move from fragmented support to a more structured approach that creates real pathways out of poverty and restores dignity to households,” he noted.
He also disclosed that under the HoPE-CT Programme in Ondo State, 173,424 beneficiaries were supported in the first tranche, 110,446 in the second tranche, and 107,704 in the third tranche, representing a total of 780,408 individuals impacted across the state when household size is considered.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Mr Olubunmi Olusanya, said: “This engagement provides us the opportunity to listen directly to beneficiaries, understand their experiences, and ensure that the programme continues to evolve in a way that is transparent, inclusive, and impactful.”
Speaking on behalf of the Ondo State Government, the Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Mrs Yemi Perisola, described the HoPE-CT Programme as a transformative initiative that directly impacts vulnerable households.
“This programme is not just about financial support; it is about restoring confidence in governance and ensuring that vulnerable households are given the opportunity to rebuild and improve their livelihoods through a transparent and accountable system.”
A major highlight of the engagement was the interactive session between the Minister and beneficiaries, where beneficiaries shared their experiences, challenges and the impact of the programme on their livelihoods.