The Edo government said on Friday that it is targeting over 1,666 vulnerable poor women and youths to benefit from its livelihood support programme in the state.

The head of unit, Edo Cash Transfer Unit, Flora Bossey, disclosed this during a two-day training held in Benin for the cash transfer facilitators from 11 local government areas.

Ms Bossey said the Livelihood Support Intervention was being implemented under the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus Project (Edo CARES) for economically active poor and vulnerable youths and women.

She said the State Cash Transfer Unit (SCTU) was one of the delivery platforms of the Community Action for Resilience and economic stimulus of NCARES projects in the state.

She explained that the amount for the beneficiaries under the livelihood project was between N20,000 and N200,000, depending on the micro business they were involved in.

Ms Bossey said the state government had given the go-ahead to begin the implementation of the fourth phase of disbursement in the 11 local government areas.

“Five hundred and sixty-six beneficiaries from seven local governments had earlier benefited and now we have added 1,100 beneficiaries from 11 local government areas, bringing the total number to 1,666 across the state.

“We are implementing Disbursement Lead Indicator 1.3, which is livelihood support for economically active youths and women who are drawn from the social register for the poor and the vulnerable in the state.

“The training is to prepare the facilitators for the implementation of the project at the local government and community levels.

“They are to organise the beneficiaries, verify businesses, enrol and facilitate livelihood training such as bank account opening and business plan development, among others,” she said.

Ms Bossey explained that the programme was targeting small businesses and petty traders who were the breadwinners of their families.

Robert Edomwandagbon, a facilitator from Ovia South-West local government, said the training has equipped him to succeed in the task ahead.

On his part, Okhamafe Reuben from Owan East Local Government said the training would enable him to identify the most vulnerable people to benefit from the programme.

 (NAN)