Current and ex-beneficiaries of the Npower scheme shared their experiences and pleaded that the next administration should sustain the social intervention scheme. Npower alongside other social intervention programmes was created by the Federal Government in 2016.
Investors King understands that under N-Power, graduates are expected to earn N30,000 and N10,000 for non-graduates as monthly stipends from the Federal Government until they exit the programme or secure permanent employment.
The scheme has three core segments, namely N-Power Volunteer Corps (for graduates), N-Power Build (for non-graduates) and N-Power Knowledge, which is also a non-graduate programme for the ICT-inclined.
Speaking on the impact of the scheme, one of the beneficiaries of the N-Power Knowledge Programme, Mr Umar Ahmed Sarki, said that the programme was of immense benefit to youths.
“The N-Power programme is a good one. We thank the government for empowering the youths with monthly stipends. We hope it will be sustained by the incoming administration’’, Sarki said.
Similarly, Abigail Thomas who benefited from the same programme said she would use the knowledge gained from the training on software engineering to develop applications that would help in solving some of the challenges facing humanity.
“I have been here since February. It has been an amazing experience as we were paid transportation fare to get here and we get paid N1,200 for daily feeding.
“The Federal Government should please sustain the programmes to give opportunities to other youths to benefit. This way, the vision of Buhari to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in ten years will be achieved,’’ Abigail pleaded.
Although the Npower scheme has been engulfed in some controversies such as diversion of funds and non-payment of monthly stipend as at when due, the programme, however, has been very impactful to millions of its beneficiaries, some of whom have gained meaningful employment after the programme while some are now running their own business.