N-Power, an initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria aimed at lifting citizens out of poverty through capacity building, investment, and direct support, will open for applications from qualified Nigerians for the third batch of the program from June 26th.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development; Sadiya Umar Farouq made this disclosure in a statement released on her behalf by the Deputy Director, Information of the ministry, Rhoda Iliya.
She said that the decision to enroll the third batch of the N-Power scheme was made following consultations and a review of the submissions on the reform of the program for greater efficiency.
“As part of the Ministry’s reforms to make the program more efficient, all applicants must supply their Bank Verification Number (BVN) in their application to ensure a streamlined and transparent selection process”, she said.
She noted that submitted applications will be reviewed and a list of successful applicants published. She, however, emphasised that past beneficiaries will not be eligible to participate in the application process.
Also, Farouq said in the statement that the Federal Government will disengage 500,000 Batch A and Batch B beneficiaries of N-Power-200,000 from Batch A which started in September 2016 and 300,000 from Batch B which kicked off in August 2018.
The beneficiaries were supposed to spend 24 months on the program but Batch A beneficiaries have spent over 40 months. They will all be released from N-Power on June 30th and July 31st respectively and absorbed into government or private sector schemes according to the Minister.
“We have commenced the transitioning of beneficiaries from Batches A & B of N-Power into government entrepreneurship schemes and engaging private sector bodies to absorb some of the beneficiaries after the completion of psychometric assessment to determine competency and placement into various opportunities.
“The Federal government is committed to the continuation and expansion and as such will now begin enrolment and onboarding of a new Batch of beneficiaries.
“In view of these, the Ministry has announced that Batch A will exit June 30, 2020, and Batch B will exit the program on July 31, 2020”, Farouq concluded.
