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The National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), Assoc. Prof. Badamasi Lawal, has called for an urgent transformation of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) into a more accountable, impactful, and sustainable initiative.

Badamasi, who was represented by the Acting National Programme Manager of N-POWER, Mr. Nsikak Okon, made the remarks at the Stakeholders’ Roundtable on the Renewed Hope Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (RHGEEP 3.0) held in Abuja.

He emphasized that the Renewed Hope administration recognises both the urgency and the opportunity to reposition GEEP as a driver of financial inclusion and economic empowerment.

“I am confident that today’s deliberations will yield concrete outcomes that will not only strengthen RHGEEP 3.0 but also advance our national goals of poverty reduction, economic empowerment, and sustainable development,” he stated.

GEEP, one of the flagship components of the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIPs), was designed to provide microcredit and financial support to Nigerians at the base of the economic pyramid. Through schemes such as MarketMoni, TraderMoni, and FarmerMoni, the programme has supported micro-enterprises, restored dignity, and provided opportunities to citizens often excluded from formal financial systems.

While acknowledging the successes recorded under GEEP 1.0 and 2.0, Badamasi stressed the need for RHGEEP 3.0 to adopt lessons from previous cycles in order to deliver deeper impact. According to him, the new phase must prioritize transparency and accountability, strengthen repayment and sustainability structures, expand digital inclusion through fintech partnerships, and deepen collaboration with state and local governments.

He further described RHGEEP 3.0 as a recalibration rather than a mere continuation, anchored on restoring confidence among beneficiaries and stakeholders, ensuring fairness in access, and enforcing obligations to guarantee sustainability.

Delivering the welcome address, National Programme Manager for GEEP, Mr. Hamza Baba, reaffirmed the programme’s commitment to expanding access to interest-free loans under MarketMoni, TraderMoni and FarmerMoni.

“As part of measures to renew trust and build a sustainable RHGEEP 3.0, I visited Kaduna, Kano and Lagos to meet market leadership and beneficiaries of previous GEEP cycles,” he revealed. “State Programme Managers in Imo, Cross River, Katsina, Niger and Zamfara have also carried out sensitisation exercises to identify authentic small-holder traders and secure cooperation on repayment.”

Baba added that the roundtable presented an opportunity to gather feedback, harness innovative ideas, strengthen partnerships with policymakers and grassroots leaders, and translate interventions into measurable progress for households and communities.

“Together, we can ensure that financial inclusion is not just a policy aspiration, but a lived reality for every farmer, every trader, and every Nigerian striving for a better future,” he said.

The roundtable brought together policymakers, financiers, and grassroots stakeholders to chart a new direction for RHGEEP 3.0 under the Renewed Hope administration.

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