Protocol.
Let me express gratitude to Almighty Allah for granting us His blessings to witness the flag-off of the 2nd tranche disbursement of cash grants and presentation of Agricultural Inputs and Assets to deserving individuals and communities in our dear state.
However, I am here before you today, not only to flag-off this significant activity, but to also reassure you of my administration’s unwavering disposition to building the future of this State and repositioning it on the right track of socio-economic recovery and development.
As some of you may be aware, the various supports we are giving today, are being implemented by the Katsina State CARES Programme, which has three (3) Delivery Platforms as follows: Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA), FADAMA and former DESI, which I have restructured and renamed Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA).
The programme is a State home-grown response of the Nigeria-CARES Programme supported by the World Bank aimed at mitigating the effects and challenges posed by the COVID-19 Pandemic and a virile vehicle for expanding access to livelihood and food security.
It is sad to note that, despite the glaring importance of this project in transforming the lives of our citizens, it encountered a number of challenges that put the State at some disadvantages during the first and second circles of its implementation.
However, in the midst of these challenges, the programme had succeeded in supporting 516 beneficiaries from 6 LGAs that were mined from the State Social Register who were given start-up capitals for soft skill businesses.
Also, 63,143 individuals benefited under the micro projects, while 1,650 and 1,360 farmers received agricultural inputs and assets, respectively. Similarly, 692 small firms received operational support grants and IT enhancement tools.
Now, the programme is in its 3rd circle, therefore, in the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful, I wish to flag-off the 2nd disbursement of cash grant and support services of the KT-CARES Programme in which:
6,100 poor and vulnerable households from 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) will be given livelihood grants of an average of N50,000.00 each totaling N300,000,000.00. These 20 benefiting LGAs plus the 6 in the first circle give a total of 26 LGAs.
43 communities (with an estimated number of 2,000 individuals each) across the 34 LGAs will receive an average grant of N12,000,000.00 each for the implementation of Micro Projects in their communities.
1,170 farmers from the 34 LGAs will receive various Agricultural Inputs worth N140,106,330.00, while another category of 12,250 farmers will be supported with Agricultural Assets to the tune of N763,199,500.00 at an average of N62,303.00
In all, the State is investing the total sum of N1,719,305,830.00 under the CSDA and FADAMA components of KT-CARES Programme. This disbursement and support services reflect our government’s firm belief towards changing the narratives of creating safety nets for the poor and vulnerable, the excluded, the physically challenged, including children and women.
Let me reiterate here that, our drive on sanctioning all forms of social exclusion, discrimination and marginalization in Katsina State knows no bound. Our testimonies against these social anomalies are found in a number of programmes we have been implementing under various ministries, departments and agencies.
Just last week, we commissioned the State Sexual Assault Center, graduated and empowered 450 girls under the Girls-Child Programme.
To ensure that KT-CARES Programme does not suffer any more, I approved the sum of N500 Million to FADAMA in support of its implementation. I also approved the sum of N145 Million to CSDA for the implementation of Livelihood Support on the eight LGAs that were not part of the six LGAs that benefited in the first circle and are not among the 20 LGAs benefiting today.
It is also noteworthy that, I have approved the sum of N1.5Billion to CSDA and FADAMA for the implementation of Basic Services, Agricultural Inputs and Assets, respectively.
This will positively impact the lives of about 148,000 direct beneficiaries under CSDA Micro Projects and 6,000 farmers will benefit under FADAMA. The implementation plan for this fund is underway.
As we take a significant leap in building a more caring society, and the fact that the recipients of this grants are bonafide members of our dear state, I wish to urge them to take the State’s gestures very seriously by utilizing the grants or items given to them for the purposes they are meant for. We are assured they will serve as game changers in transforming your economic status and providing food security in the State.
Lastly, let me inform all the Katsina-CARES Project Managers that, I have high expectations in the performance of this project. I call on you to stand on your toes towards ensuring successful implementation especially in meeting its targets and earning favorable rewards.
I thank you all for being here with us.
