Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, today led the HoPE-CT Beneficiary Engagement in Akwa Ibom State, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that humanitarian and social protection programmes deliver measurable impact while creating sustainable pathways out of poverty for vulnerable Nigerians. This was contained in a statement signed by Janet McDickson (Mrs), Director, Information and Public Relations.
The event, held in Uyo, brought together beneficiaries, government officials, traditional rulers, community stakeholders, women groups, youth representatives, local government leaders, and members of the media in a robust engagement designed to strengthen programme delivery through direct beneficiary feedback.
Delivering his keynote address, the Honourable Minister stated that the engagement was part of government’s determination to move beyond policy design and ensure that interventions are validated in communities and experienced by real people.
According to the Minister, “Since I assumed office, I have been guided by a firm conviction that interventions must not only be designed in offices, they must be validated in communities and experienced by real people.”
Dr. Doro explained that the Ministry is currently developing a new flagship framework that will ensure humanitarian support goes beyond one-off assistance and becomes a structured pathway to self-reliance through retraining, skills acquisition, enterprise support, and access to finance.
He emphasized that lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty remains critical to long-term national development, adding that “If we exit millions out of poverty, that will be the basis for economic development.”
Speaking specifically on Akwa Ibom State, the Honourable Minister disclosed that the State has recorded one of the most significant beneficiary footprints under the programme. According to him, 276,970 beneficiaries received support in the first tranche, 240,038 beneficiaries received support in the second tranche, while 234,142 beneficiaries received support in the third tranche.
He explained that the variation in figures across the tranches reflects the ongoing validation of beneficiaries’ National Identification Numbers (NINs) in the National Social Register. He noted that as more records are successfully validated, subsequent tranches will continue to progress in line with the programme’s transparency and verification processes.
The Minister stressed that these measures are necessary to ensure that only verified and eligible beneficiaries receive support while strengthening accountability and integrity in programme implementation.
He further reiterated that Nigerians can monitor programme progress and related information through the official National Cash Transfer Office platform, ncto.gov.ng, where programme updates are made publicly available.
The Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, was ably represented at the event by the Honourable Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Rt Hon. Princess Emem Ibanga, who welcomed the Honourable Minister and the federal delegation to the State.
In her remarks, the Commissioner commended the Honourable Minister for personally leading the engagement, describing his presence as a demonstration of leadership by example and deep concern for vulnerable citizens. She also encouraged beneficiaries to participate actively and avoid any form of fraud, emphasizing that no one should pay money to benefit from government programmes.
Representing the Governor, the Commissioner thereafter formally declared the HoPE-CT Beneficiary and Stakeholder Engagement open.
Also speaking, the National Programme Manager of the National Conditional Cash Transfer Office (NCTO), Abdullahi Alhassan Imam, FCN, appreciated the Government and people of Akwa Ibom State for the warm reception accorded the delegation. He urged beneficiaries to freely share their experiences and challenges, assuring them that all feedback would be used to improve implementation.
Goodwill messages were delivered by stakeholders, including the Chairman of Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, Hon. Asuakak Umoh, who appreciated the Federal Government for extending support to vulnerable citizens and reaffirmed the readiness of local government authorities to continue partnering in social intervention delivery.
The major highlight of the engagement was the direct interaction between the Honourable Minister and beneficiaries, during which he engaged them in frank and productive conversations regarding payment processes, access to support, challenges encountered, and the impact of the intervention on their livelihoods.
The session created an atmosphere of openness, accountability, and trust, as beneficiaries spoke directly with the Minister and offered firsthand feedback to guide future improvements. Participants described the engagement as timely, impactful, and reflective of a government committed to listening to citizens while strengthening service delivery.
The Akwa Ibom engagement further demonstrated the Federal Government’s resolve to place citizens at the heart of governance by combining compassion with accountability, support with empowerment, and policy with measurable impact.
As the Ministry advances reforms aimed at connecting humanitarian assistance to sustainable economic opportunities, stakeholders expressed confidence that the HoPE-CT model will continue to restore dignity, strengthen households, and build resilient communities across Nigeria.
The event ended on a high note with renewed commitments by the Federal Government, Akwa Ibom State Government, and grassroots stakeholders to deepen collaboration in advancing humanitarian support, poverty reduction, and inclusive development—ensuring that hope is not merely promised, but practically delivered to the people.
END
