Enugu Cooperatives Benefit From NAPEP Scheme

No fewer than 500 cooperative societies in Enugu State are benefiting from the Village Economic Development Solution Scheme developed by the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP).

The Coordinator of NAPEP in the state, Mr Hyacinth Ngwu, told The Tide sources last week that the societies comprised a minimum of 10 persons each and a maximum of 5,000 persons.

“We give them soft loans to help them establish small-scale businesses in their local areas.

“NAPEP is currently in partnership with 10 faith-based organisations and we give them loans and grants which they give to indigent members of their congregation,” he said.

On other programmes which NAPEP embarked on, Ngwu said that 2,000 persons benefited from its Promise Keeper Programme.

He, however, noted that the fight against poverty in the state was not the sole responsibility of the government.

According to him, the fight against poverty is a collective responsibility of the government, corporate organisations, NGOs and well-to-do Nigerians.

“In Nigeria, we see the fight against poverty as something that only the government will do but outside the country it is not so.

“Private individuals, corporate bodies and NGOs contribute to ensure that poverty is eradicated in the country.

“Nigerians should endeavour to see the fight against poverty as what they have to do to help their country to develop,” the coordinator said.

“According to statistics, 54 per cent of the country’s population is poor. We need a lot of collaborations, funding and partnership to fight poverty in Enugu State,” he said.

Ngwu appealed to corporate organisations, NGOs and philanthropists to assist in poverty eradication in the state.