How NPower is Contributing to Reducing Unemployment and Poverty in Nigeria
N-Power program: Addressing poverty, unemployment and insecurity in Nigeria
President Muhammadu Buhari created the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development in 2019 with the aim of rescuing Nigerians from poverty.
This new ministry took over the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) that was previously overseen by the office of the Vice-President. The NSIP aims to tackle poverty, unemployment and insecurity through job creation, with the objective of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty over the next decade.
The NSIP includes the N-Power program, which focuses on unemployed Nigerian youths, including school leavers, non-graduates, and graduates aged between 18 and 35. The program has three core segments – N-Power Volunteer Corps, N-Power Build, and N-Power Knowledge – with monthly stipends paid by the Federal Government. The beneficiaries receive training in various fields, including software engineering and scriptwriting, and are equipped with skills to improve their employability and entrepreneurial abilities.
Although the program has faced allegations of corruption, the supervising minister has denied these claims, and experts believe that the N-Power program can help address poverty, unemployment, and insecurity in Nigeria if properly managed and sustained.
The federal government has dedicated significant human and material resources towards achieving its objectives since its establishment. One of the beneficiaries of the N-Power Knowledge Programme, Mr Umar Ahmed Sarki, expressed his gratitude for the programme’s immense benefits for Nigerian youths. He hopes that the incoming administration will continue to sustain the programme.
Abigail Thomas, who also benefited from the N-Power programme, plans to use the knowledge gained from the software engineering training to develop applications that address humanity’s challenges. She thanked God and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs for the opportunity and hopes that the federal government will continue the programme to give more youths a chance to benefit.
Similarly, Ngusha Elijah, a beneficiary of N-Creative, plans to venture into the entertainment industry after learning how to write scripts for TV production. He praised the federal government for empowering unemployed youths and appealed to the incoming administration to sustain the programme.
Mr Akighir Aondohemba from Benue plans to use the knowledge he gained from the programme to build websites for business owners and create wealth for himself and his family. He urged the federal government to continue the programme and target people in rural and semi-urban areas.
Marvelous Abutu, a facilitator on N-Creative, noted that the successful application of skills learned is essential to measure the programme’s outcome. The Programme Manager on Software Training, Temitope Folorunsho, expressed optimism that the beneficiaries are well-equipped to apply the skills learned to their lives and careers.
Despite allegations of corruption and malpractices, the supervising minister denied any wrongdoing, stating that a well-rounded mechanism for selecting eligible beneficiaries has been in place since the programme’s inception. Experts believe that the N-Power programme has been a significant contribution to fighting youth unemployment and poverty alleviation.
Observers urge the incoming administration to consider retaining the programme and making necessary amendments to address identified lapses.
