From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Federal Government has launched the Renewed Hope Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (RHGEEP 3.0) alongside the FarmerMonie Dry and Wet Season Programme.
The initiatives, a decisive move to expand economic opportunities, strengthen food security, and accelerate poverty reduction, were unveiled on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction through the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).
Declaring the programmes open, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, described the event as a clear demonstration of the Federal Government’s determination to translate policy commitments into tangible actions that improve lives and restore dignity.
Doro explained that the Renewed Hope Agenda is anchored on inclusion, resilience, and shared prosperity, with RHGEEP 3.0 serving as a practical expression of this vision.
The programme is designed to expand access to affordable finance for micro and small-scale entrepreneurs, artisans, traders, and informal sector operators.
Doro emphasized that millions of Nigerians who have remained outside the formal financial system must be deliberately brought into the economic mainstream for national development to be truly inclusive.
On the FarmerMonie Dry and Wet Season Programme, Doro highlighted agriculture as a strategic pillar of national stability. The initiative aims to support over 22,000 farmers across the 774 local government areas in its first phase.
By empowering farmers with resources across both planting cycles, the government intends to boost food security and ensure agriculture remains a viable pathway out of poverty.
The National Coordinator of NSIPA, Associate Professor Badamasi Lawal, assured stakeholders that the agency has strengthened its targeting and monitoring systems to ensure transparency and accountability.
In a goodwill message, Hajiya Fatima Tajudeen Abbas, wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, lauded the government for prioritizing grassroots empowerment and women-centered interventions.
The National Programme Manager of GEEP, Hamza Ibrahim Baba, provided technical details, explaining that FarmerMonie will offer interest-free and collateral-free loans of up to ₦300,000 to eligible smallholder farmers.
He noted that the registration portal is now open for prospective applicants, with disbursements expected to be completed by the end of March to align with the upcoming wet season.
The event featured the symbolic issuance of checks to selected beneficiaries and drew a wide array of dignitaries, including the Minister of Women Affairs and the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory.
