The Federal Government, in collaboration with the Kwara State Government, has intensified efforts to deepen social protection across the state, with over 460,000 households benefiting from the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Cash Transfer Programme.

This was made known during a working visit by the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard M. Doro, to Ilorin, the state capital, where he engaged stakeholders and interacted with beneficiaries of the programme.

A statement by Rasheedat Shodunnke, Press Secretary, Ministry of Social Development, made available to the press on Saturday, said that the engagement, held on Friday at the premises of the Kwara State Banquet Hall, Ilorin, brought together federal and state government officials, development partners, and thousands of beneficiaries drawn from across the 16 local government areas of the state.

In his speech, Doro commended Kwara State for its strong implementation framework and commitment to social protection delivery.

He described the programme as "a critical pillar in Nigeria's poverty reduction strategy and a model for effective federal-state collaboration."

The minister stressed the need for transparency, accountability, and data-driven targeting to ensure that support reaches the most vulnerable households.

He also urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the funds to improve household stability and economic resilience.

Doro further assured all of the Federal Government's commitment to scaling up humanitarian interventions across the country, noting that partnerships with states like Kwara remain essential to achieving sustainable poverty reduction outcomes.

Earlier, in her welcome address, the state Commissioner for Social Development, Mariam Imam, congratulated beneficiaries of the HOPE-CT programme, describing it as a life-changing intervention that continues to restore dignity and improve livelihoods across Kwara State.

She said the programme aligns with the vision of the Kwara State Government under the leadership of AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, particularly in strengthening social inclusion for orphans and vulnerable children, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and other disadvantaged groups.

According to her, the state government, through the Ministry of Social Development and the Kwara State Social Investment Programme, has continued to strengthen coordination and delivery of social intervention programmes, with the cash transfer unit domiciled within KWASSIP enhancing efficiency and accountability.

She disclosed that the HOPE-CT programme has so far reached over 183,000 households in the first phase, about 139,000 in the second phase, and over 141,000 in the third phase, covering all parts of the state.

In her goodwill message, the Commissioner for Communications, Bolanle Olukoju, described the programme as "a major social investment initiative that continues to uplift families and aligns with the inclusive governance agenda of Governor AbdulRazaq."

She noted that over 463,000 households are expected to benefit across the three phases, describing the impact as far-reaching and transformative.

Also speaking, the Acting General Manager of KWASSIP, Dr AbdulWasiu Tejidini, highlighted Kwara's pioneering role in social investment programming in Nigeria, noting that the state's model has been replicated in several other states.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the agency to sustain interventions across different sectors, including traders, transporters, artisans, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable groups.

The visit ended with renewed commitments from both federal and state stakeholders to strengthen collaboration, improve programme delivery, and expand the reach of social protection initiatives across Kwara State.