I was invited to come in and run four programs the cash transfers the school
programs the cash transfers the school
programs the cash transfers the school feeding programs the small loans to
feeding programs the small loans to
feeding programs the small loans to artisans and farmers and also the entire
artisans and farmers and also the entire
artisans and farmers and also the entire program by the vice-president two years
program by the vice-president two years
program by the vice-president two years ago well November 2015 we came in and
ago well November 2015 we came in and
ago well November 2015 we came in and saw looked at what existed of course we
saw looked at what existed of course we
saw looked at what existed of course we have the huge majority of Nigerians live
have the huge majority of Nigerians live
have the huge majority of Nigerians live in remote areas there’s hardly any
in remote areas there’s hardly any
in remote areas there’s hardly any amenities but they make do and you’d be
amenities but they make do and you’d be
amenities but they make do and you’d be surprised at how they stretch small
surprised at how they stretch small
surprised at how they stretch small amounts of money to cover their needs
amounts of money to cover their needs
amounts of money to cover their needs they don’t have the awareness of the
they don’t have the awareness of the
they don’t have the awareness of the kind of food that will enable them be
kind of food that will enable them be
kind of food that will enable them be nutritious they eat what they grow and
nutritious they eat what they grow and
nutritious they eat what they grow and some of it they don’t utilize as they
some of it they don’t utilize as they
some of it they don’t utilize as they should or they burn off the nutrients we
should or they burn off the nutrients we
should or they burn off the nutrients we have very poor connectivity or even
have very poor connectivity or even
have very poor connectivity or even limited connectivity so I’m the scale up
limited connectivity so I’m the scale up
limited connectivity so I’m the scale up that we would require would require
that we would require would require
that we would require would require offline solutions they like basic and
offline solutions they like basic and
offline solutions they like basic and amenities health in fact many of them
amenities health in fact many of them
amenities health in fact many of them don’t exist as far as material is
don’t exist as far as material is
don’t exist as far as material is concerned because they’re not registered
concerned because they’re not registered
concerned because they’re not registered on any platform they don’t have any
on any platform they don’t have any
on any platform they don’t have any identities you find communities
identities you find communities
identities you find communities completely devastated and there’s no
completely devastated and there’s no
completely devastated and there’s no record of them having ever lived so it
record of them having ever lived so it
record of them having ever lived so it was a task that we thought had a lot of
was a task that we thought had a lot of
was a task that we thought had a lot of you know moving parts first and foremost
you know moving parts first and foremost
you know moving parts first and foremost we needed to look at how do we operate
we needed to look at how do we operate
we needed to look at how do we operate in a Federation where you don’t have any
in a Federation where you don’t have any
in a Federation where you don’t have any control over what happens in States how
control over what happens in States how
control over what happens in States how do we compel States to work with us and
do we compel States to work with us and
do we compel States to work with us and communities how do we get them to
communities how do we get them to
communities how do we get them to identify with what we’re doing
identify with what we’re doing
identify with what we’re doing Social Protection has
Social Protection has
Social Protection has in many many countries but it has to be
in many many countries but it has to be
in many many countries but it has to be done right we’ve had past programs many
done right we’ve had past programs many
done right we’ve had past programs many of which have been successful but not at
of which have been successful but not at
of which have been successful but not at a large scale many of them had serious
a large scale many of them had serious
a large scale many of them had serious challenges the first thing was
challenges the first thing was
challenges the first thing was identification how do you target the
identification how do you target the
identification how do you target the audience how do you make sure in a
audience how do you make sure in a
audience how do you make sure in a country of 86 million poor people in
country of 86 million poor people in
country of 86 million poor people in Nigeria means its Ghana Togo Liberia
Nigeria means its Ghana Togo Liberia
Nigeria means its Ghana Togo Liberia Senegal Burkina Faso the Republic of
Senegal Burkina Faso the Republic of
Senegal Burkina Faso the Republic of Benin all put together this is the
Benin all put together this is the
Benin all put together this is the number of poor people that we have in
number of poor people that we have in
number of poor people that we have in this country
this country
this country and we need to start somewhere so we
and we need to start somewhere so we
and we need to start somewhere so we started off by looking at how do we
started off by looking at how do we
started off by looking at how do we target the poorest of our country our
target the poorest of our country our
target the poorest of our country our citizens and we looked at creating a
citizens and we looked at creating a
citizens and we looked at creating a credible register somebody here spoke
credible register somebody here spoke
credible register somebody here spoke about data that is so important but we
about data that is so important but we
about data that is so important but we were not about to take lists from
were not about to take lists from
were not about to take lists from anybody these are the poor people we are
anybody these are the poor people we are
anybody these are the poor people we are going into communities and we’re
going into communities and we’re
going into communities and we’re developing a register of poor people and
developing a register of poor people and
developing a register of poor people and we’re looking within budgetary
we’re looking within budgetary
we’re looking within budgetary constraints how to ensure that we get an
constraints how to ensure that we get an
constraints how to ensure that we get an authentic register that tells us the
authentic register that tells us the
authentic register that tells us the female-headed households the widows
female-headed households the widows
female-headed households the widows those that are really really poor we put
those that are really really poor we put
those that are really really poor we put the information when the community
the information when the community
the information when the community identifies these people we put them on a
identifies these people we put them on a
identifies these people we put them on a device that has a protein means testing
device that has a protein means testing
device that has a protein means testing formula and it automatically ranks them
formula and it automatically ranks them
formula and it automatically ranks them from the poorest to the least poor so
from the poorest to the least poor so
from the poorest to the least poor so we’re creating a register of poor people
we’re creating a register of poor people
we’re creating a register of poor people in every state and we’re hosting the
in every state and we’re hosting the
in every state and we’re hosting the information ad nibs because we need to
information ad nibs because we need to
information ad nibs because we need to get these people identified on a
get these people identified on a
get these people identified on a platform and anybody today that has a
platform and anybody today that has a
platform and anybody today that has a bvn number is going to end up having an
bvn number is going to end up having an
bvn number is going to end up having an in number national identity number as
in number national identity number as
in number national identity number as you can imagine Financial Inclusion for
you can imagine Financial Inclusion for
you can imagine Financial Inclusion for these people is important but wherever
these people is important but wherever
these people is important but wherever there’s poverty there’s no banking
there’s poverty there’s no banking
there’s poverty there’s no banking infrastructure so one of the challenges
infrastructure so one of the challenges
infrastructure so one of the challenges we have is getting to pay these people
we have is getting to pay these people
we have is getting to pay these people in the communities where they live and
in the communities where they live and
in the communities where they live and it has been a very encouraging
it has been a very encouraging
it has been a very encouraging and heartening experience for us we have
and heartening experience for us we have
and heartening experience for us we have met women who to be paid 10,000 naira
met women who to be paid 10,000 naira
met women who to be paid 10,000 naira they come with Ghana Moscow say they
they come with Ghana Moscow say they
they come with Ghana Moscow say they have never seen such an amount in their
have never seen such an amount in their
have never seen such an amount in their lives so they don’t they just want to be
lives so they don’t they just want to be
lives so they don’t they just want to be able to carry that money home you know
able to carry that money home you know
able to carry that money home you know these are people that the country has
these are people that the country has
these are people that the country has never realized that they even exists we
never realized that they even exists we
never realized that they even exists we sit here I mean I’ve been in a cash
sit here I mean I’ve been in a cash
sit here I mean I’ve been in a cash transfer program that I have seen 3,500
transfer program that I have seen 3,500
transfer program that I have seen 3,500 naira making a difference in a month
naira making a difference in a month
naira making a difference in a month making a difference to the well-being of
making a difference to the well-being of
making a difference to the well-being of a family and that just makes you wonder
a family and that just makes you wonder
a family and that just makes you wonder you know what we use money for we
you know what we use money for we
you know what we use money for we created the platform that we call the
created the platform that we call the
created the platform that we call the empower program and that enables youth
empower program and that enables youth
empower program and that enables youth graduates from any part of this country
graduates from any part of this country
graduates from any part of this country we were determined to create a level
we were determined to create a level
we were determined to create a level playing field anybody should apply to
playing field anybody should apply to
playing field anybody should apply to either work serve in schools primary
either work serve in schools primary
either work serve in schools primary schools or the health sector or the
schools or the health sector or the
schools or the health sector or the Ministry of the agricultural sector we
Ministry of the agricultural sector we
Ministry of the agricultural sector we sat down with the ministries to
sat down with the ministries to
sat down with the ministries to determine what it is they required from
determine what it is they required from
determine what it is they required from our youth because we have a huge youth
our youth because we have a huge youth
our youth because we have a huge youth underemployment and unemployment and
underemployment and unemployment and
underemployment and unemployment and population so we’re linking those youth
population so we’re linking those youth
population so we’re linking those youth to those sectors and we have the child’s
to those sectors and we have the child’s
to those sectors and we have the child’s DK’s who today even though from an Umbra
DK’s who today even though from an Umbra
DK’s who today even though from an Umbra state are working in the School of
state are working in the School of
state are working in the School of Hygiene in in in carnal State we have
Hygiene in in in carnal State we have
Hygiene in in in carnal State we have mr. Ali who is in Plateau State
mr. Ali who is in Plateau State
mr. Ali who is in Plateau State visually-impaired had never ever thought
visually-impaired had never ever thought
visually-impaired had never ever thought of I mean he never imagined she could
of I mean he never imagined she could
of I mean he never imagined she could get a job he applied and today after
get a job he applied and today after
get a job he applied and today after just five months of payment of thirty
just five months of payment of thirty
just five months of payment of thirty thousand era he got himself a computer
thousand era he got himself a computer
thousand era he got himself a computer and he’s translating science subjects
and he’s translating science subjects
and he’s translating science subjects into Braille he’s working in their
into Braille he’s working in their
into Braille he’s working in their Braille school school of the blind we
Braille school school of the blind we
Braille school school of the blind we have a government empowerment and
have a government empowerment and
have a government empowerment and enterprise program that gives 10,000 to
enterprise program that gives 10,000 to
enterprise program that gives 10,000 to 100,000 naira to artisans to market
100,000 naira to artisans to market
100,000 naira to artisans to market women
women
women two farmers they don’t need to have any
two farmers they don’t need to have any
two farmers they don’t need to have any collateral all they need is to form a
collateral all they need is to form a
collateral all they need is to form a cooperative and the co-operative now
cooperative and the co-operative now
cooperative and the co-operative now serves as their endorsement gives
serves as their endorsement gives
serves as their endorsement gives credibility to them and ensures that
credibility to them and ensures that
credibility to them and ensures that they repay as a pressure point there is
they repay as a pressure point there is
they repay as a pressure point there is no interest element but there’s a five
no interest element but there’s a five
no interest element but there’s a five percent flat fee admin fee then we have
percent flat fee admin fee then we have
percent flat fee admin fee then we have a homegrown school feeding program that
a homegrown school feeding program that
a homegrown school feeding program that program enables us to feed children in
program enables us to feed children in
program enables us to feed children in public primary schools so far 14 states
public primary schools so far 14 states
public primary schools so far 14 states have started and we have created jobs
have started and we have created jobs
have started and we have created jobs for almost 40,000 cooks we’re feeding
for almost 40,000 cooks we’re feeding
for almost 40,000 cooks we’re feeding almost three million children every Cook
almost three million children every Cook
almost three million children every Cook has a Vivian and has an account opened
has a Vivian and has an account opened
has a Vivian and has an account opened for her
for her
for her every cook buys directly from the
every cook buys directly from the
every cook buys directly from the farmers and the farmers now have a
farmers and the farmers now have a
farmers and the farmers now have a sustainable income because thereby
sustainable income because thereby
sustainable income because thereby they’re selling directly to the cooks
they’re selling directly to the cooks
they’re selling directly to the cooks and the cooks are feeding the children
and the cooks are feeding the children
and the cooks are feeding the children in primary schools there is a multiplier
in primary schools there is a multiplier
in primary schools there is a multiplier effect that just goes on and this is our
effect that just goes on and this is our
effect that just goes on and this is our sustainability we’re ensuring that we’re
sustainability we’re ensuring that we’re
sustainability we’re ensuring that we’re building capacity within the states
building capacity within the states
building capacity within the states because we’re compelling the states to
because we’re compelling the states to
because we’re compelling the states to embrace our programs we feel it is
embrace our programs we feel it is
embrace our programs we feel it is critical for all our stakeholders all
critical for all our stakeholders all
critical for all our stakeholders all our beneficiaries to have this pbn
our beneficiaries to have this pbn
our beneficiaries to have this pbn otherwise they would never get
otherwise they would never get
otherwise they would never get registered they would never appear
registered they would never appear
registered they would never appear visible on our platforms in Nigeria as
visible on our platforms in Nigeria as
visible on our platforms in Nigeria as far as registration is concerned so have
far as registration is concerned so have
far as registration is concerned so have we had challenges yes we have huge
we had challenges yes we have huge
we had challenges yes we have huge challenges that have to do with politics
challenges that have to do with politics
challenges that have to do with politics you know people are well politics its
you know people are well politics its
you know people are well politics its entitlements its vested interests people
entitlements its vested interests people
entitlements its vested interests people want to determine who we pay they want
want to determine who we pay they want
want to determine who we pay they want to determine who we select they want to
to determine who we select they want to
to determine who we select they want to determine who gets any contract
determine who gets any contract
determine who gets any contract unfortunately we don’t give any
unfortunately we don’t give any
unfortunately we don’t give any contracts everything is goes through
contracts everything is goes through
contracts everything is goes through Bureau public procurement and that has
Bureau public procurement and that has
Bureau public procurement and that has been how do we get these jobs done in a
been how do we get these jobs done in a
been how do we get these jobs done in a different way how
different way how
different way how do we ensure efficiency so we’re using
do we ensure efficiency so we’re using
do we ensure efficiency so we’re using technology we’re able how do we ensure
technology we’re able how do we ensure
technology we’re able how do we ensure transparency so we’re using BBN where we
transparency so we’re using BBN where we
transparency so we’re using BBN where we can how do we ensure that the states buy
can how do we ensure that the states buy
can how do we ensure that the states buy into these things we have a framework
into these things we have a framework
into these things we have a framework and everybody has to comply otherwise we
and everybody has to comply otherwise we
and everybody has to comply otherwise we don’t pay the beneficiaries and the
don’t pay the beneficiaries and the
don’t pay the beneficiaries and the states don’t get paid we pay our
states don’t get paid we pay our
states don’t get paid we pay our beneficiaries directly it has been a
beneficiaries directly it has been a
beneficiaries directly it has been a really hard task but it has been very
really hard task but it has been very
really hard task but it has been very very also encouraging because for us
very also encouraging because for us
very also encouraging because for us at long last something is happening and
at long last something is happening and
at long last something is happening and we’re getting it right
we’re getting it right
we’re getting it right gradually so how can people help us we
gradually so how can people help us we
gradually so how can people help us we are we have got action aid to select
are we have got action aid to select
are we have got action aid to select NGOs for us for the first time we’ll
NGOs for us for the first time we’ll
NGOs for us for the first time we’ll have civil society in every state giving
have civil society in every state giving
have civil society in every state giving us feedback so that we can measure we
us feedback so that we can measure we
us feedback so that we can measure we can ensure that we get the true facts of
can ensure that we get the true facts of
can ensure that we get the true facts of what is happening at ground level so and
what is happening at ground level so and
what is happening at ground level so and we’re able to improve as we move along
we’re able to improve as we move along
we’re able to improve as we move along we would like to see the public buying
we would like to see the public buying
we would like to see the public buying into what we’re doing otherwise we could
into what we’re doing otherwise we could
into what we’re doing otherwise we could easily get diverted from people in
easily get diverted from people in
easily get diverted from people in government or people as you can imagine
government or people as you can imagine
government or people as you can imagine the National Assembly people even within
the National Assembly people even within
the National Assembly people even within the executive who feel that politics is
the executive who feel that politics is
the executive who feel that politics is coming and we need to go back and give
coming and we need to go back and give
coming and we need to go back and give returns at home now having the
returns at home now having the
returns at home now having the endorsement of our public having people
endorsement of our public having people
endorsement of our public having people beginning to understand that we all have
beginning to understand that we all have
beginning to understand that we all have a responsibility to support our poor the
a responsibility to support our poor the
a responsibility to support our poor the majority of these people are like you
majority of these people are like you
majority of these people are like you and I they think they feel they have
and I they think they feel they have
and I they think they feel they have aspirations for their children for their
aspirations for their children for their
aspirations for their children for their lives all they need is a small stipend
lives all they need is a small stipend
lives all they need is a small stipend and you’d be amazed at how much they
and you’d be amazed at how much they
and you’d be amazed at how much they what they’re making of their lives so at
what they’re making of their lives so at
what they’re making of their lives so at the end of the day we’re we’re building
the end of the day we’re we’re building
the end of the day we’re we’re building bonds between government and its people
bonds between government and its people
bonds between government and its people we’re doing it on a scale never ever
we’re doing it on a scale never ever
we’re doing it on a scale never ever done before we’re trying to do it right
done before we’re trying to do it right
done before we’re trying to do it right and we’re hoping that more and more
and we’re hoping that more and more
and we’re hoping that more and more Nigerians will be able to buy into this
Nigerians will be able to buy into this
Nigerians will be able to buy into this because social protection ensures there
because social protection ensures there
because social protection ensures there are people everybody has a sense of
are people everybody has a sense of
are people everybody has a sense of belonging and yes Nigeria
belonging and yes Nigeria
belonging and yes Nigeria can be great and we will make it great
can be great and we will make it great
can be great and we will make it great working collectively all of us thank you
working collectively all of us thank you
working collectively all of us thank you very much
very much
very much [Music]
”
Be First to Comment