N-Power Batch C is kicked off by the FG

The federal government announced the start of N-Power Batch C across the country on Monday, with 510 people enrolled in the first stream of the youth empowerment program.

Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, who kicked off the event in Abuja, said another 490 people would be enrolled in Batch C, stream 2 at a later date.

She said non-graduate beneficiaries were entitled to N10,000.000 monthly stipends for a period of 9 months under the Batch C program, while N-Power volunteers (graduates) were entitled to a monthly stipend of N30,000 for a period of one year.

”All beneficiaries are given an appropriate starter pack for their trade to enable them to begin their businesses in their chosen trades,” she explained.

“To ensure fairness, transparency, and credibility in the recruitment process, the N-Power program used an online application and selection strategy.

“In June 2016, when the application portal was first opened, the program began in the Office of the Vice President. Over 750,000 applications were received, with 200,000 beneficiaries being chosen for the first batch, known as Batch A.”

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“In June 2017, the portal was reopened, and over 2.5 million applications were received, with another 300,000 volunteers being accepted into the program as Batch B.

“Permit me to express my gratitude to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, for his administration’s unwavering efforts to eradicate poverty in our country, as well as for supporting and sustaining the National Social Investment Program. With the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the relocation of the NSIP from the OVP to the Ministry, it is worth noting that Mr. President has graciously approved the expansion of the NPower program from 500,000 to 1,000,000 beneficiaries, allowing more young people to benefit.

“In June 2020, the portal was reopened based on this approval, and over 6 million new applications were received. As part of the NPower Batch C, 1,000,000 beneficiaries will be selected. Batch C is split into two streams. There are 510,000 beneficiaries in Stream C1 and 490,000 beneficiaries in Stream C2. A total of 450,000 people have been chosen to benefit from the graduate component of Batch C1, while 60,000 people will benefit from the non-graduate component.”

Farouq stated that the “Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development is dedicated to ensuring that the strategic objectives of all Social Intervention Programs are met.”

“Some innovations have been introduced into the N-Power selection and payment processes, such as the creation of the National Social Investment Management Systems (NASIMS), as well as partnerships with key MDAs such as the NYSC, UBEC, NPHCDA, and NOA, to name a few, which the Ministry is leveraging to effectively implement its interventions.

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“To ensure that communication challenges are addressed, particularly in relation to limitations on information flow and internet access across the country, and in order to provide accessibility to all target program applicants and beneficiaries, the Ministry has decided to provide access to information via a USSD code,” says the statement. In accordance with the foregoing, the USSD short code *45665# has been secured through integration to provide the necessary connectivity and technical support for the provision of information services to our beneficiaries,” she added.