NAPEP: Eradicating Poverty
Despite the abundance of poverty alleviation programmes which past governments had initiated and implemented, by 1999 when the Obasanjo administration came to power a World Bank’s report indicated that Nigeria’s Human Development Index (HDI) was only 0.416 and that about 70 per cent of the population was vegetating below the bread line.These alarming indicators prompted the government to review the existing poverty alleviation schemes with a view to harmonising them and improving on them. Three presidential panels were set up in this regard. They were: the Presidential Panel on the Rationalisation and Harmonisation of Poverty Alleviation and Agencies headed by Alhaji Ahmed Joda; Presidential Technical Committee on the Review of all Poverty Alleviation Programmes headed by Professor Ango Abdullahi; and Committees on Youth Policy, Concept of the Youth Empowerment Scheme and the Blueprint for Poverty Eradication Programme headed by Professor A.B. Aborishade.The findings and recommendations of these presidential panels coalesced in the formation of the National Poverty Alleviation Programme (NAPEP) in January 2001. This new scheme has been structured to integrate four sectoral schemes.
The first is the Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES), which is concerned with providing unemployed youth opportunities in skills acquisition, employment and wealth generation. To achieve this, the scheme has been further subdivided into Capacity Acquisition Programme, Mandatory Attachment Programme and Credit Delivery Programme.
The second is the Rural Infrastructure Development Scheme (RIDS). The objective of this scheme is to ensure the provision and development of infrastructure needs in the areas of transport, energy
water and communication especially in rural areas. The scheme has been broken into four parts: the Rural Transport Programme, the Rural Energy Programme, the Rural Water Programme and the Rural Communication Programme.
The third is the Social Welfare Services Scheme (SOWESS) which aims at ensuring the provision of basic social services including quality primary and special education, strengthening the economic power of farmers, providing primary health care, and so on. This third scheme consists of four broad sub-categories which are, the Qualitative Education Programme, Primary Health Care Programme, Farmers Empowerment Programme and Social Services Programme.
The last is the Natural Resources Development and Conservation Scheme (NRDCS). The vision of this scheme is to bring about a participatory and sustainable development of agricultural, mineral and water resources through the following sub-divisions: Agricultural Resources Programme, Water Resources Programme, Solid Minerals Resources Programme and Environment Protection Programme.
The target of the National Poverty Eradication Programme is to completely wipe out poverty from Nigeria by the year 2010. The formulators of the programme have identified three stages to the attainment of this ambitious target.
- The first stage is the restoration of hope in the mass of poor people in Nigeria. This involves providing basic necessities to hitherto neglected people particularly in the rural areas.
- The second stage is the restoration of economic independence and confidence.
- The final stage is wealth creation.
Funding of NAPEP
The Poverty Eradication Fund (PEF) which is administered by the National Poverty Eradication Council directly funds the National Poverty Eradication Programme. However, all poverty alleviation programmes originally budgeted for by participating ministries will continue to be funded from those budgetary provisions under the supervision of NAPEC.
NAPEP is also funded from contributions given to it by state and local governments, the private sector and special deductions from the Consolidated Fund of the Federal Government.
It also gets donations from international donor agencies such as the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the European Union, the Department for International Development, the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, and the German Technical Assistance.
When NAPEP came on stream in January 2001, it was given a take-off grant of N6 billion. This money was used to establish NAPEP structures in 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and 744 local government councils.
Part of the money was also used in the NAPEP employment generation intervention which translated to the training of 100,000 youths, attaching 50,000 unemployed graduates in various places of work, training of over 5000 people in tailoring and fashion design, and the establishment of rural telephone networks in 125 local government areas.
Other uses to which the money was put include the delivery of the KEKE-NAPEP three-wheeler vehicle project involving 2000 units in all the state capitals of Nigeria, the establishment of 147 youth information centers across the senatorial districts, the delivery of informal micro credit ranging from N10,000 to N50,000 to 10,000 beneficiaries most of whom were women, and so on.
From January 2001, NAPEP has intervened in a number of projects. So far about 140,000 youths have been trained in more than 190 practical hand-on trades over a period of three months. Every trainee in this intervention project was paid N3,000 per month while N3,500 was paid to each trainer. The training programme was packaged with the understanding that that beneficiaries would subsequently set up their own businesses in line with the skills they have acquired. To actualize this, 5,000 beneficiaries were resettled with assorted tailoring and fashion design equipment.
Also under the Mandatory Attachment Programme for unemployed graduates, 40,000 beneficiaries were attached in 2001 each of whom was paid a monthly stipend of N10,000. The installation of equipment under the Rural Telephone Project is currently in progress, while the KEKE-NAPEP project is currently being vigorously implemented. The project offers:
- A vehicle with a powerful diesel engine, and a fuel tank capacity of 10.5 litres
- A vehicle whose top speed is up to 80 Km per hour
- A vehicle that is suitable for intracity commuting and commercial passenger carriage
- A vehicle with a passenger capacity of four people
- A vehicle with a payload capacity of 320Kg
- A vehicle with adequate room for passenger luggage
- A vehicle that has a low fuel consumption of 38 km per litre
CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF NAPEP
June 6, 2006 at 12:38 pm
Very nice and informative article. I’m a bit disapproving of the ‘impoverished Nigerian’ image you portray by the pictures.
I understand this shows things as they really are in some parts of Nigeria butit does not speak for the majority.
It tends to give the impression to non-Nigerians [non-Africans] that Nigerians are dirt-poor. Most of the unsolicited aid we get from ‘advanced’ countries, thrive on the pity such pictures inspire in the people.
Have you ever wondered that poverty is always portrayed with someone ‘black’? We don’t need pity — as long as we get that, we’ll never rise.
Just my thoughts — I may of course, be wrong.
November 1, 2006 at 5:30 pm
Please the pictures you have shown and the funds you have already adminstered are very good, But other unemployed graduates can benefit from the programme if NAPEP representatives are attached in Government parastatals and bodies like Police, Ministries, Military, Civil Defence corp, PHCN, etc to ensure that all employments conducted their are fare, open and documented.
May 9, 2007 at 2:26 pm
thats awful
July 20, 2007 at 12:55 am
thats soo sad some of those pics…
September 26, 2007 at 12:24 pm
this aricle was helpful
January 24, 2008 at 8:31 pm
NAPEP is not wide spread.I live in Nnewi Anambra State and I have been teaching young boys and girls but I have never come across any person that has benefited from NAPEP.The keep asking during question and answers how to benefit from the programme.Waiting for your cherished reply.
March 12, 2008 at 8:49 pm
this is so sad dat i wanna cry so so so so so so so sad.
March 27, 2008 at 8:32 am
PEACE SETTERS COMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
Address: No. AV 63 Faskari Road Sabon Gari Tudun Wada Kadun
the PEACE STETERS is an association that is found in kaduna state of Nigeria and thier main objectives are comunity building as well as youth empowerment through her successful projects that include
* skills aquisation programmes
* counceling
* public enlightenment programmes
* social and moral development projects
* firt aid and other health related programmes
But this association only cames into exstance may 2007 but has been successful in most of her projects.
Actually we have been hering about the NAPEP programmes but we are not fully convinced that it truely exist, because we have seen non of it positive effect to the lives of our community youth.
association is ever ready to render any kind of support to develop and empower the youth when ever the need arise as long as it is not beyound the power of the association.
April 11, 2008 at 5:01 am
Good afternoon, I’m Wynndee Penolio from GMA7 Network, one of the leading broadcasting company in the Philippines. I just want to ask permisssion if we could use some pictures from this website for national and international airing.
Rest assured that you organization will be credited.
Thabk you very much.
May 31, 2008 at 11:09 am
Sir/ Madam,
Accept warm and sincere greetings from the members of the Young Farmers Development Common initiative Group (CIG) in Cameroon . Before I proceed, permit me introduce to you this group.
Young farmers development CIG (YOFADEG) was existing as early as 21st October 2002 and obtained its legalised registration certificate from the Government of Cameroon on the 03-08-2006, with Registration No NW/GP/01/06/10168 in compliance with law No. 92/006 of the 14 August 1992 relating to cooperative societies and common initiative groups and its decree of application No. 92/455/pm of 23 November 1992. YOFADEC is located in Ako Town , Ako Sub Division, Donga Mantung Division, North West Province of Cameroon with the following activities and or objectives:
Fighting hunger and poverty by cultivating the soil and educating youths on the importance of self employment through farming.
Fighting the deadly disease HIV/AIDS among youths of this locality.
Environmental protection.
Increasing standard of living of group members through marketing of cocoa beans, palm oil, maize and vegetable.
To encourage peace in the society at large.
To go out and learn, to come back and teach youths on the importance of human right, Democracy and Modern farming techniques.
Encourage youths to take part in decision making and group participation.
To achieve the above goals set aside, YOFADEG
Needs:
- to expand knowledge on the deadly diseases AIDS in order to pass on awarness to youth.
- Financial assistance in order to reach much as possible the grass root level with necessary
Information
ü As a volunteer group, youth mobility is essential thus we have to get involve in youth exchange activities and intercultural learning.
ü Information and books that relate the above mention activities
ü Volunteers to visit us and share their experiences with us
Looking at the above, we wish to inquire:
-1f you can invite a volunteer from YOFADEG for intercultural learning?
-If your organisation can supply us with information relating to HIV/AIDS to better educate our community.
- If you can furnish us with information relating human rights and democracy like wise education on other means of alleviating poverty?
-If your group can delegate a volunteer for intercultural learning with YOFADEG? We will take care of housing, feeding and medication excluding flight. This will enable you share your experiences with us as both groups will benefit.
-If your group can furnish us with information to better protect our environment?
-If you can assist us with labtop computers?
Looking at the above questions, any question that may suit your (yes) answer is of our great concern as we look forward anxiously to read positively from you at your convinience. We wish you the best in your group’s desire and may God’s blessings be with you always.
Sign secretary
EMMANUEL NGENGE.
September 30, 2008 at 10:24 am
Article was quite helpful for ma seminar presentation, thanks. But the thing is Nigerian government are too good in formulating policies but poor at executing them. Napep has been in existence for quite sometime but how much can they present as acheivement?