The Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has launched the RH GEEP 3.0 Dry and Wet Season FarmerMoni programme, alongside a training exercise for Local Government Desk Officers and Field Extension Workers.
The event took place on Monday, March 9, at the Women Development Centre on IBB Avenue, Uyo. It marked the start of formal training for officials who will oversee the scheme in communities across the state.
Speaking at the launch, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Princess Emem Ibanga, said the initiative is intended to support smallholder farmers with funding and practical guidance to improve their output and strengthen their livelihoods.
She said the programme is expected to boost agricultural productivity, improve food security and support economic growth in rural areas. According to her, the scheme also fits into Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda, especially its focus on rural development, empowerment, poverty reduction and support for local farmers and entrepreneurs.
Princess Ibanga said FarmerMoni goes beyond agricultural support and should also be seen as a humanitarian intervention aimed at helping vulnerable residents build more stable sources of income. She added that the programme would widen financial inclusion and encourage more business activity at the grassroots.
She commended President Bola Tinubu for backing social investment programmes designed to provide practical support for vulnerable Nigerians. She also praised Governor Umo Eno for pursuing people focused policies through the ARISE Agenda, as well as the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, for supporting empowerment driven initiatives.
The commissioner urged programme managers, field officers and other stakeholders to carry out their duties with openness, accountability and professionalism to ensure the scheme reaches the right beneficiaries.
In his welcome remarks, the State Focal Person for the National Social Investment Programme, Dr Godwin Akpan, described the rollout as an important step in the Federal Government’s push to deepen economic inclusion among farmers and other small scale operators.
He explained that GEEP is made up of FarmerMoni, MarketMoni and TraderMoni, all of which are designed to offer interest free loans to traders, artisans and farmers in order to improve productivity and stimulate local commerce.
Akpan said more than N200 million had already been disbursed to beneficiaries in Akwa Ibom through GEEP 1.0 and 2.0, with support from the Bank of Industry and Access Bank. He stressed that desk officers and extension workers would play a central role in linking policy to the people and called on them to maintain high standards of transparency.
Also speaking, the State Programme Manager, Mr James Umoh, said RH GEEP 3.0 represents a renewed phase of the intervention, with a wider focus on smallholder farmers and grassroots entrepreneurs.
He said the programme is designed to provide microcredit to traders, artisans, farmers and other small business operators who often struggle to access conventional banking services. According to him, FarmerMoni loans under the new phase are interest free and do not require collateral, with an initial loan package of N300,000 aimed at improving food production and supporting local economies.
Umoh urged beneficiaries to use the funds wisely and repay on time so that others can also benefit from the scheme.
In separate goodwill messages, the representative of AKADEP and Director of Extension Services, Mr Imoh Akpanah, the National Auditor of AFAN, Prince Bassey Inwang, and the Permanent Secretary, Human Capital Development, Mr Uduak Isaac, described the programme as a timely response to current economic needs. They praised both the federal and state governments for sustaining efforts aimed at economic empowerment and human capital development.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Mrs Eno Akpan, gave the vote of thanks and expressed satisfaction with the commencement of the programme. She thanked President Bola Tinubu and Governor Umo Eno for sustaining the intervention in the state.
Before the official launch, officials had visited Akpan Andem Market in Uyo for a sensitisation campaign to inform farmers and traders about the refundable loan opportunities available under RH GEEP 3.0.
