A’Ibom govt flags off training of cash transfer facilitators

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

Akwa Ibom State Government has flagged off the training of Cash Transfer Facilitators (CTF) across the 31 Local Government Areas ahead of the Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer (RH-CCT) disbursement to the vulnerable poor.

The training is aimed at equipping the facilitators with the requisite knowledge and skill to sensitise the communities, and beneficiaries and enrol the poor and vulnerable households of those communities into the RH-CCT programme.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr Ini Adiakpan, who flagged off the One-Day Training on RH-CCT on Friday in Uyo, Commended President Bola Tinubu for the initiative which is different from the previous conditional cash transfer programme.

Adiakpan said that the previous conditional cash transfer programme only covered nine LGAs and the payment model was epileptic where many beneficiaries could not receive their money when due.

“First of all, I want to thank Mr President for this renewed hope project that has come here today.

“Before now, we used to have an epileptic cash transfer to the beneficiaries and only nine LGAs were taken but with Mr President, the programme is now scaled up to 31 LGAs.

“I am so delighted because this programme is aiming at alleviating poverty, touching the vulnerable and also touching poor of the poor,” Adiakpan said.

Adiakpan urged the facilitators to equip themselves with good communication skills to help them interact professionally with the beneficiaries and avoid hitches.

She urged the beneficiaries to be prudent with the grant that would be given to them by starting up businesses which would help to lift them from their miserable conditions.

Also speaking, the State Focal Person for Conditional Cash Transfer, Dr Godwin Akpan, warned the facilitators against sharp practices of extorting money from the beneficiaries before enrolling them in the programme.

Akpan said that those who may be caught in the act will face severe sanctions from the government.

He thanked the Federal Government for the initiatives and pledged total support of the state for the programme’s success.