Federal Government has begun the training of National Orientation Agency (NOA) officials for effective implementation of Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP2.0) digitisation and registration in Sokoto State.
The training is organised by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
It is specifically organised for 23 NOA Community Orientation and Mobilization Officers (COMOs).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on the completion of the exercise, the trainees would serve as desk officers of GEEP in the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
In a speech, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq, said the programme was among the National Social Investment Programmes (N-SIP) meant to tackle poverty and hunger in the country.
Umar-Faruk, represented by Mr Segun Awosanya, said the success of the programme would depend on the quality and quantity of data generated by COMOs.
She urged the participants to double their efforts to ensure better implementation of the programme.
She warned against the extortion and intimidation of beneficiaries.
The minister said that those found guilty would be dealt with.
She also said that GEEP 2.0 was designed to create access to credit for the poor and vulnerable people.
“The ministry organised this training to acquaint the trainees with the new criteria of registration, the new GEEP digitisation application pre-loaded on the tablets to be used by participants.
“The tablets are to be used for digitisation aimed at ensuring seamless programme implementation and to bring the COMOs up to date with the new strategies and requirements for phase two registration,” she said.
Earlier, NOA’s State Director, Alhaji Maude Danchadi, commended the ministry for trusting the agency with the task.
Danchadi also thanked the Sokoto State Government for supporting the programme.
He assured the minister that the officers would double their efforts in ensuring that the success of the programme.
The agency’s State Mobilization Officer, Mr Murtala Isa-Gwadabawa, said the enumeration of beneficiaries was ongoing in all the LGAs.
Isa-Gwadabawa commended the ministry’s effort aimed at lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
He promised that NOA team would work tirelessly to ensure the success of the programme.
He urged GEEP desk officers to pay attention to the training and observe the ethics of the job, which included integrity, discipline, honesty, fairness among others.
NAN reports that GEEP was introduced in 2016 under the supervision of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
The programme consists of Trader Moni, Market Moni and Farmer Moni, through which loans are disbursed to beneficiaries.
Under the Farmer Moni, beneficiaries get farming equipment in lieu of the amount.
Items such as tablets and power bank were distributed to the officers for the exercise. (NAN)

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