Governor Uba Sani Launches ₦300,000 Empowerment Scheme For 2,400 Rural Women, Youth In Kaduna

*Pioneers Nigeria’s First State-Led Poverty Graduation Programme

By; FUNMI ADERINTO, Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has officially flagged off the Kaduna Ultra Poor Graduation Programme (KAD-UPGP) — a groundbreaking social protection initiative designed to lift 2,400 of the state’s poorest citizens out of extreme poverty through sustainable livelihood support and financial empowerment.

Under the programme, each beneficiary — largely rural women, youths, and persons with disabilities — will receive an economic support grant of ₦300,000, alongside training, mentoring, and access to financial services.

Speaking during the official launch in Kaduna on Tuesday, Governor Sani described the initiative as a defining step in his administration’s war against poverty and social exclusion.

“This is not just a development intervention; it is a declaration that we will not allow poverty or the aftershocks of COVID-19 to define the lives and future of our people,” he said.

“We are building a new Kaduna where no one is left behind, and every citizen can live with dignity and contribute meaningfully to society.”

Governor Sani noted that poverty in Kaduna, as in many parts of Nigeria, is a complex and multi-dimensional issue — one that requires more than short-term palliatives.

“The Kaduna Ultra Poor Graduation Programme is our strategic response to break this cycle through bold, evidence-based, and inclusive policies. With this launch, Kaduna becomes the first state in the country to roll out a government-led graduation programme,” he stated.

He explained that the model draws inspiration from successful international examples in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Kenya, integrating social protection, financial inclusion, and livelihood development to help the ultra-poor achieve self-sufficiency.

According to the Governor, the selection of beneficiaries was based on data from the state’s Social Register, which now covers more than 2.5 million vulnerable individuals.

He added that special attention was given to women and youths, “who, though often overlooked, possess enormous potential when given the right opportunities.”

Governor Sani was joined at the symbolic cheque presentation by his Deputy, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, top government officials, and representatives of development partners. Each beneficiary received a ₦300,000 cheque to support small-scale enterprises.

The Country Director of the Gates Foundation, Uche Amaonwu, commended Governor Sani for his visionary leadership, saying:

“This is not just a pilot — it is a model of resilience and inclusive growth. We are proud to be part of Kaduna’s journey toward shared prosperity.”

Similarly, the Executive Director of the Kaduna State Social Investment Programmes Agency (KADSIPA), Mallam Sani Maikudi, emphasized that the initiative is part of a broader effort to build sustainable systems for poverty reduction rather than one-off interventions.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Social Investment, Bridget Suleiman, described the launch as a “turning point for social development in Nigeria,” highlighting the programme’s four pillars — cash transfers, seed capital for livelihoods, financial literacy and mentoring, and integration into cooperatives and formal financial systems.

Governor Uba Sani was also honoured by development partners as the first Nigerian governor to implement a state-led Ultra Poor Graduation Programme, recognizing his pioneering role in institutionalizing social protection in Nigeria.

KADSIPA confirmed that the pilot phase will cover four local government areas representing both rural and peri-urban communities, with scale-up plans already in progress based on lessons from the initial phase.