Nigeria to benefit from 38m euros NEPAD’s empowerment programmes

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) says it has earmarked 38 million euros for poverty eradication and empowerment in five countries.

Mrs Gloria Akobundu, the Chief Executive Officer, NEPAD Nigeria, made this known at a two-day workshop organised by the programme on Tuesday in Abuja.

Akobundu explained that 35 million euros would go for the empowerment programmes, while three million euros has been earmarked for the technical support interventions.

According to her, the three million euros technical interventions will be used in expansion of facilities and training centres and sensitisation and awareness on the programme.

She said NEPAD Nigeria has concluded governance mechanism of the programme at the continental level in South Africa.

She added that NEPAD Nigeria has already embarked on the sensitisation and advocacy campaigns on the programme to guide potential applicants on modalities of accessing the grant.

Recall that a social entrepreneur, Dr Odogwu Williams, has urged the NEPAD Continental to intervene in rebuilding the North East.

She said that Nigeria was diverse hence the need to carry along all ethnic nationalities equitably in its projects.

“The Federal Character Commission should be able to know if NEPAD is applying Federal Character principles in distributing projects for the sake of fairness.

“Concession should be given to Nigeria to be able to rebuild the North East as was done for Rwanda after the genocide.

“Let Nigerians know how much is being given to NEPAD and who the agency is giving the money to,’’ she said.

She said that poverty was pervasive in the rural areas, adding that most people in the rural areas would find it difficult applying for and accessing the fund.

She said that NEPAD had to take the campaign to the grassroots in order to achieve maximum result.