FG training 1,850 youths on POS business, beneficiaries to get N20,000 startup capital

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Forouq, on Thursday, disclosed the federal government (FG) has commenced the training of 1,850 youths selected across the nation on mobile money-making business.

The business venture, popularly known as Point of Sale (POS) business, according to Farouq is part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration’s plan to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in ten years.

Speaking at the occasion in Abuja, Farouq noted at the end of the training, the beneficiaries will be provided start-up kits that include a Point-of-Sale (POS) machine, fingerprint scanner and furniture (chairs, tables and umbrellas) as well as a modest capital of N20,000.00.

According to her, “Since the inception of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration in 2015, the Federal Government has paid more attention to promoting the plight of the poor and vulnerable in the country despite the economic slump the administration inherited.”

“This informed the decision to initiate the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) as a strategy for enhancing social inclusion. NSIP is one the largest social protection programmes in Africa with over $1billion earmarked annually to cause positive change in the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable in the country,” she explained.

She added; “Since its introduction in 2016, the prorgramme has impacted positively on the lives of the poor and vulnerable in Nigeria”, adding:”I have personally witnessed the life-changing experiences of people who lived below the poverty line and those that are vulnerable to shocks.”

“Over 12 million households have benefitted from NSIP interventions in the last five years”, the minister said:”With the creation of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development by President Buhari in 2019, and the able leadership of the Honourable Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq, these programmes are being restructured and revamped to respond to peculiarities of different parts of the country, to ensure the right beneficiaries are targeted, and to enhance impact on target beneficiaries.”

“In view of the life-changing experience of beneficiaries of NSIP, President Buhari has graciously approved the expansion of the programme to touch more lives and lift more Nigerians above the poverty breadline,” she further explained.

Speaking on the start-up funding for the participants, she said; “Upon completion of the training, the target beneficiaries be registered with the Shared Agency Network Expansion Facility (SANEF) as Mobile Money Agents and be provided with a Start-up Kits that include a Point-of-Sale (POS) Machine, Fingerprint Scanner and Furniture (chairs, tables and umbrellas) as well as a modest capital of N20,000.00.”

“We hope that the programme will provide job opportunities to the 1,850 youths selected from the 36 States and FCT as well as promote financial inclusion, by providing financial services to unserved and underserved Nigerians,”she said.