By Deji Abdulwahab
The Federal Government says its Renewed Hope Agenda, through the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer Programme (HoPE-CT), is restoring hope for vulnerable households across the country.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, said this at a news conference on Monday in Abuja.
Idris, who was represented by the Director, Public Relations and Protocol Department in the ministry, Dr Suleiman Haruna, highlighted the impact of the HoPE-CT programme.
“The HoPE-CT programme is about restoring hope, expanding opportunities, and laying the foundation for inclusive prosperity.
“It demonstrates that government is attentive to the needs of its citizens, especially those at the grassroots.”
The minister described the initiative as one of the most ambitious and impactful social intervention of the federal government.
He said the programme had, within a short period, reached more than 9.2 million beneficiaries nationwide, providing critical support to millions of households.
Idris added that the initiative was designed to reach 15 million vulnerable households, including special uplift grants of N50,000 to 3.6 million families, reinforcing the government’s poverty reduction agenda.
He noted that the programme represented renewed hope, dignity and improved living conditions for vulnerable Nigerians.
The minister commended the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction for its commitment to implementing the programme.
He urged journalists and media practitioners to focus on the human impact of government interventions by telling factual and non-partisan stories that reflect beneficiaries’ experiences.
“As storytellers, the media must amplify the human angle of these interventions—showcasing before-and-after experiences that rekindle hope among Nigerians and strengthen trust in government,” he said.
He reiterated that renewing hope remained central to the administration’s agenda and called for sustained collaboration between the media and government institutions in communicating policies and programmes effectively.
He further outlined several key social intervention initiatives of the federal government aimed at promoting social inclusion and alleviating poverty.
“The National Social Investment Programme has been reconfigured to include non-collateral, interest-free loans of N300,000 to N400,000 for youth and women through cooperatives, alongside a revised N-Power programme.
“The Student Loan Scheme has approved over N95.6 billion to support Nigerian students in higher education,” Idris said.
According to him, the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) continues to provide microloans to entrepreneurs, market women and traders under TraderMoni and related schemes.
“The 3 Million Technical Talent Programme (3MTT) is targeted at equipping 3 million Nigerians with technical and digital skills, while the Skill-Up Artisans Programme (SUPA) focuses on upgrading artisans’ skills through technology-enabled training.
“The National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme has been repositioned to boost school enrollment and support local farmers.
“The Consumer Credit Scheme, backed with over N200 billion, enables citizens to acquire goods without immediate cash payments, while the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative provides transport subsidies to reduce commuting costs.
“Livelihood Support Grants are delivering nano-grants to 600,000 micro-businesses nationwide, and the LUMINAH 2030 Initiative is designed to empower over one million women and girls through education and vocational training.”
He affirmed that the ministry would continue to collaborate with other relevant ministries and agencies to ensure effective dissemination of information and improved public engagement on government programmes.
“As we receive feedback and fine-tune implementation, we will continue to listen, learn, and deliver. Together, we must keep building a Nigeria where no one is left behind,” he said (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi
