Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ President Bola Tinubu has directed a comprehensive overhaul of the N-Power scheme, aiming to enhance its productivity and broaden its impact on Nigerian youth. This reform, announced by Tinubu’s special assistant, Olusegun Dada, and spearheaded by Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, aligns with the administration’s commitment to youth empowerment and poverty reduction.
The reform aims to equip Nigerian youth with market-ready skills that directly connect them to opportunities in the private sector. Minister Yilwatda emphasized the importance of sustainability, stating that the initiative would ensure participants are prepared for long-term job opportunities. To bolster the program, over 100,000 empowerment items have been added for nationwide distribution.
In a significant move, President Tinubu approved ₦32.7 billion for the National Social Investment Program (NSIP) in 2025, signaling his administration’s dedication to fostering economic growth. A standout feature of the revamped N-Power program is the introduction of cooperative clusters offering low-interest loans of ₦300,000 to ₦400,000. This initiative aims to support vulnerable Nigerians—especially youth and women—by enabling them to start or expand small businesses, ultimately improving livelihoods.
The minister highlighted that these reforms are a key element of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, which prioritizes economic recovery and citizen welfare. He expressed optimism that 2025 would mark a transformative year for Nigerians, particularly those enduring the challenges of economic adjustment. The program is expected to generate a ripple effect, promoting job creation, youth empowerment, and poverty alleviation across the nation.
Additionally, the House of Representatives has urged President Tinubu to direct Finance Minister Wale Edun to unfreeze the accounts of the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA) within 74 hours. NSIPA oversees vital programs such as N-Power, Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), and the Home-Grown School Feeding Initiative.
Lawmakers emphasized that unfreezing these accounts would allow NSIPA to resume operations and facilitate the disbursement of funds owed to 395,731 N-Power beneficiaries. This initiative is expected to restore confidence in the program and reinforce its mission to uplift vulnerable Nigerians.
Through these strategic reforms and financial commitments, President Tinubu’s administration is poised to empower Nigeria’s youth and foster sustainable economic development.
