By Oluwayemi Davidson, Warri
Beneficiaries of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) in Delta State have lauded the federal government for the initiative with some of them describing it as a “Life saving grant” that came to them “at a very critical period when everything, including prices of food stuff have gone up”.
Scores of women from Delta Central and Delta South Senatorial Districts benefited from the scheme which was formally rolled out in Warri last Tuesday with many of them smiling home with their N25,000 grant.
Some of the beneficiaries told journalists that they slept at the arena for three days in order to get the grant.
The NSIP scheme initiated through the ministry of humanitarian affairs is part of the Federal Government’s effort at alleviating poverty amongst rural women across the country.
The scheme aims at empowering over 3,000 rural women across the 25 Local Government areas of Delta State.
One of the Delta bebeficiaries, Mrs. Ibrokoro Faith, a mother of four who came from Sapele leapt for joy when she was given her lump sum of N25,000.
According to her, the grant which she described as a miraculous work of God, will assist her to boost her Ogogoro (illicit gin) business which thrives so much in Sapele.
Another beneficiary, Mrs. Enjoyment Inegbeneli, almost collapsed with joy when she received her own grant.
She shook the crowded arena with praises to God for using the present Federal administration to lift her out of penury.
“I will first of all remove my tithe to the glory of God before investing the remaining into my provision business”, she said.
An elderly woman in her eighties who was ushered into the arena by one of her grand daughters, fell on the ground shedding tears of joy and prayed fervently for President Muhammadu Buhari and his team that remembered the downtrodden at this critical time, through the NSIP.
Highlight of the flag off of the NSIP scheme in Delta was the exhortation by the focal person, Mrs. Anyafulu to the beneficiaries, especially the aged, to utilise the grant prudently.
“Don’t allow anybody to intimidate you. You should not give out a kobo to anybody”, she had admonished.
Fielding questions from newsmen, the focal person for the National Social Investment Programme, Mrs. Bridget Anyafulu, revealed that the programme is aimed at cushioning the harsh effect of the coronavirus pandemic amongst rural young and elderly rural women across the country.
Mrs. Anyafulu commended the Federal Government for the effort but disclosed that the scheme is being co-ordinated by the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
To avoid any unwholesome act of impersonation and dubious character, the focal person revealed that strict measures are being taken, “hence the beneficiaries are captured and verified before they are given the money”.