FG Reaffirms Commitment to Social Protection, Engages Cash Transfer Beneficiaries in Imo
Oru Leonard
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening social protection programmes across the country through transparency, accountability, and direct engagement with beneficiaries.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard M. Doro, made this known during the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer (HoPE CT) Beneficiary and Stakeholder Engagement held at the Ahiajoku Convention Centre in Owerri.
The event brought together beneficiaries, government officials, traditional rulers, development partners, community representatives, and other stakeholders to assess the impact of the HoPE CT Programme in Imo State.
Speaking at the engagement, Doro said social protection initiatives should be evaluated not only by statistics but also by their real impact on the lives of vulnerable Nigerians.
“Leadership must remain connected to impact. Reports and statistics are important, but there is no substitute for hearing directly from the people whose lives these interventions are designed to improve,” he said.
According to the minister, no fewer than 278,727 households across the 27 local government areas of Imo State have benefited from the programme, receiving over ₦6.6 billion in cash transfer support.
He explained that the beneficiary engagement was part of a nationwide initiative aimed at obtaining first-hand feedback on programme performance, identifying implementation challenges, and gathering recommendations to improve future policy decisions.
Doro assured participants that concerns raised during the interaction would be incorporated into ongoing programme reviews to strengthen implementation and expand the programme’s impact.
He also reminded beneficiaries that the HoPE CT Programme is entirely free and urged them to report any cases of extortion, misconduct, or irregularities through established grievance redress channels.
“What we are building is not just a programme, but a system that supports people, strengthens resilience, and creates sustainable pathways out of poverty,” the minister stated.
A major highlight of the event was an interactive session during which beneficiaries shared personal testimonies on how the cash transfers had improved their livelihoods.
Many participants said the intervention enabled them to pay school fees, purchase fertilisers and farming inputs, expand small businesses, improve food security, and meet other pressing household needs. They described the programme as timely and impactful while calling for its expansion to reach more vulnerable Nigerians.
In a symbolic gesture of appreciation, beneficiaries presented locally produced palm oil to the minister in recognition of the programme’s positive impact on their lives and communities.
Earlier, the Imo State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Kenneth Okafor, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction for sustaining interventions targeted at vulnerable households.
He noted that the HoPE CT Programme had contributed significantly to livelihood support, food security, educational assistance, and grassroots economic development across the state.
Okafor also reaffirmed the commitment of the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma to continued collaboration with the Federal Government in advancing social protection and poverty reduction initiatives.
Representing local government chairmen at the event, Ibekaeme Friday Umunakwe praised the Federal Government for the intervention, noting that many beneficiaries had experienced meaningful improvements in their livelihoods.
Stakeholders at the engagement pledged continued support for the effective implementation of social protection programmes, emphasizing the need for stronger collaboration to achieve inclusive development and sustainable poverty reduction in Imo State and across Nigeria.
Cover Photo Caption, L-R: Hon. Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard M. Doro and Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Odidika Uzodinma, CON. During the Hon . Minister’s visit to Imo State for
Stakeholders engagements & interaction Beneficiary of House Prosperity & Empowerment Cash Transfer Program a (HOPE-CT)
