Abdulrazaq: Cash transfer programmes effective for poverty alleviation

Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, governor of Kwara, says cash transfer programmes for vulnerable people are effective tools for eradicating extreme poverty.

AbdulRazaq said this on Friday in Ilorin, at the launch of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) socio-economic revitalisation support programme, which targets over 3,000 vulnerable families and small businesses for unconditional cash transfer.

The governor commended the federal government and UNDP for making impactful contributions to strengthen small scale businesses and bring comfort to the masses after the pandemic.

“Cash transfer to vulnerable people has proven to be a workable solution to extreme poverty,” NAN quoted the governor as saying.

“There are documented evidences of how putting money directly in the hands of the needy has helped to refocus the global efforts to empower people.

“It gives people the power to dictate the direction of their own future.

“In Kwara state, we have long domiciled the cash transfer policy of President Muhammadu Buhari. It works for us as it has worked for the federal government.

“Through our social investment programmes and some other interventions, we have reduced the poverty rate from 30.2 percent to 20.4 percent.

“We have also helped young people to grow their businesses.

“Like our own Owo Arugbo, I am aware that the UNDP’s cash transfer has no strings attached.

“Regardless, I urge beneficiaries to use the money judiciously.

“This is the way to encourage organisations like the UNDP and the government to do more in the hope that the objective of spreading wealth will not be defeated.”

Also speaking at the event, Ibrahim Gambari, chief of staff to the president, praised AbdulRazaq’s efforts in collaborating with UNDP to bring economic development to the people of the state.

He appealed to the beneficiaries of the programme to give the focus and attention required in the programme for maximum life-changing results.

On his part, Mohammed Yahaya, UNDP’s representative in Nigeria, said the programme sought to strengthen the capacities of communities affected by the impact of the pandemic, with at least 3,000 Kwara women and youths expected to benefit.

He said the UNDP has so far implemented the programme across 10 states in the country, with over 80,000 beneficiaries supported since 2020 to date.