The Nation Newspaper

Tag: N-Power beneficiaries

  • Ondo N-Power beneficiaries hold eight-hour rally for Buhari

    Over 1,000 beneficiaries of the Federal Government N-Power programme in Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State at the weekend staged an eight-hour solidarity rally in support of the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The beneficiaries, who converged on Oba-Akoko junction, carried out a house-to-house campaign of the area.

    They pleaded with the residents to re-elect President Buhari because of the laudable programmes his administration had executed in the last three and a half years.

    They went round in hired buses, private cars and many commercial motorcycles through Oba-Akoko, Supare, Ikun, Ayegunle, and terminated at Oka-Akoko, a distance of about eight kilometres.

    Distributing handbills, leaflets and carrying banners, the campaigners went on specially prepared T-shirts with fez caps adorned with the photographs of President Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

    Some of the inscriptions on the banners read: “Please, Vote For Buhari”; “He has reduced our sufferings by introducing N-Power programme for university graduates to solve unemployment in the country” and “A vote for Buhari is a sure bet for the continuation of N-Power.”

    Their T-shirts carried the message: “We are beneficiaries of N-Power programme.”

    According to the coordinators of the rally, Ogunwode Femi Innocent and Kola Omosanyin, who addressed reporters, the rally was aimed at expressing gratitude to the Federal Government for introducing the programme.

  • Ekiti N-Power beneficiaries to vote for Buhari in 2019

    •Fayemi rallies support for APC

    Beneficiaries of the N-Power scheme in Ekiti State have pledged to support the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari, if he declares interest to run in 2019.

    The beneficiaries said the scheme has lifted them from poverty and saved them from the pangs of unemployment.

    They spoke at the weekend in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, at the maiden anniversary of the scheme.

    The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, urged the beneficiaries to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) in this year’s governorship poll and next year’s general elections.

    The arrival of Fayemi, who represented the President at the event, elicited a deafening ovation as many of the beneficiaries chanted Ko Duro S’oke (Let It Stay At The Top), the minister’s political slogan.

    A total of 3,600 beneficiaries in Ekiti State joined the N-Power scheme in 2016 while 8,337 others were admitted into the scheme last year.

    A beneficiary Biodun Daramola said Buhari had shown commitment to the empowerment of the youth by committing N6 billion as monthly stipends to over 200,000 beneficiaries all over the country.

    Daramola said: “Because of what our President has done, I want every youth in Nigeria to support this APC government in 2019.

    “In 2019 general elections, we want all youths in Nigeria to support APC and all youths in Ekiti to support the party in the 2018 governorship election.”

    Other beneficiaries who testified that the scheme had changed their lives included Feyisayo Falegan, Adesoji Adedeji and Oluseye Odetola.

    The youths said they used the monthly stipends to set up businesses.

    The beneficiaries called for the sustenance of the scheme.

     

  • Buhari has saved us from poverty, say N-Power beneficiaries

    Ekiti State beneficiaries of the N-Power programme of the Federal Government have hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for bailing them out of unemployment with the initiative.

    They said the initiative had reduced the number of youths in the labour market and prevented them from being used as thugs by desperate politicians.

    Three thousand and four hundred beneficiaries trooped to their centre at Fajuyi area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, to collect their tools. The beneficiaries are getting N30,000 each as their monthly stipend.

    Speaking with The Nation yesterday while collecting their tools, the beneficiaries said the scheme offered over 200,000 Nigerian graduates and school leavers the hope of becoming entrepreneurs.

    N-Power President in Ekiti State Daresola Oladimeji said the beneficiaries have been doing exploits in health, teaching and agriculture sectors.

  • N-Power beneficiaries share experiences

    N-Power beneficiaries share experiences

    Some of the beneficiaries of the N.Power programme, who shared their experiences, appreciated the support of the government in empowering them.

    N-Power is one of the components of the N-SIP aimed at empowering Nigerians both graduates and non-graduates – between the ages of 18 and 35 – who get paid N30, 000 monthly over a period of two years.

    About 174,160 beneficiaries have been deployed so far out of the 200,000 selected N-Power beneficiaries.

    Dapil Ali, a beneficiary of N-Power graduate scheme in Plateau State said he was employed under the scheme and posted to a school of the handicap in the state as a teacher.

    “I have been able to instruct the blind students and my vision is to make every blind person a scientist and a mathematician.

    “I have been saving part of my stipend; I desire to establish a computer centre that will be training vision impaired persons through a special programme,’’ he said.

    A beneficiary from Kano State Mr. Ebere Charles, said he graduated with 1st Class Honours in 2013 without a job.

    Charles said that being the only graduate in the family of eight, it was frustrating not having a job until N-Power transformed his life.

    “I was skeptical about this N-Power programme before, thinking it will be like any other failed social programmes in the past.

    “I applied and I was posted to School of Hygiene in Kano where I lecture and counsel the students,’’ he said.

    Mr Magaji Nicolas, another beneficiary of the programme from Kaduna, who graduated seven years ago, was full of appreciation to the government for employing them.

    “My life before now was close to despair, I will wake up without a job,’’ he said,

    Magaji, however, appealed to the Federal Government to extend the scheme to accommodate more youths.

    “Youths want to be engaged like us but no one to engage them; the stipend is helping but engaging youths is more important even that the money.’’

    Ms Geneve Okecheckwu, another beneficiary from Enugu said she had worked with some professionals under the N-Power to learn how to create website.