Bauchi to benefit from $500m NG-CARES financing—Mohammed
By Ahmad Ahmad, Bauchi
Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has directed the State Implementation Unit for the NG-CARES program to urgently work out the necessary modalities of assisting the State to access additional financing from the program.
The Governor gave the directive at the official launching and distribution of ICT Enhancement facilities to 7,000 beneficiaries under the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Bauchi-Cares Result Area 3 MSEs held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Bauchi.
Mohammed said that presently, the World Bank has provided an additional financing package of $500 million to support the rollout of the next phase of NG-CARES 2.0, where participating states would access $12 million with an additional $46 million set aside as unallocated funds to be redistributed during the program’s mid-term review meeting.
He observed that the successful implementation of the NG-CARES Result Area 3 in Bauchi, which focuses on strengthening the capacities of small and medium enterprises through the distribution of ICT enhancement facilities worth over N1 billion, was made possible through the assistance of the World Bank.
According to him, the distribution of the ICT enhancement facilities marked a significant milestone in the collective efforts to harness the power of technology for the sustainable development of the state and to alleviate poverty through the empowerment of the people.
“With these tools, our youths, small business owners, farmers, and traders will now have the means to expand their businesses, improve their livelihoods, and contribute to the economy in a more meaningful way.
“This program is not just about distributing technology; it is about creating a sustainable ecosystem where businesses can thrive and poverty can be reduced.
“My administration remains fully committed to tackling poverty in Bauchi State, as we have shown with this program. Addressing poverty requires multi-faceted solutions.
“This is why we will continue to work closely with the World Bank and other development partners to expand and strengthen our social protection programs,” he said.
He reiterated the unwavering commitment of his administration towards empowering its citizens with the tools needed to create opportunities, build resilience, and participate meaningfully in economic development.
Mohammed added that his vision for Bauchi was to be a state where every citizen, regardless of background, has access to the resources required to succeed.
On his part, Abdulkarim Obaje, the National Coordinator of the NG-CARES program, congratulated Bauchi on the milestones achieved in the implementation of the program and highlighted that the distribution of the ICT gadgets is a key component of the NG-CARES initiative.
Represented by the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Atiku Musa, Obaje explained that the program was designed to promote digital inclusion and empower beneficiaries with the skills and tools needed to thrive in today’s technology-driven world.
On his part, Sadiq Shira, the state’s Commissioner for Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, said the initiative reaffirmed Governor Mohammed’s vision of leveraging technology for economic growth and underscored the state’s commitment to empowering its citizens in the digital era.
According to him, the distributed gadgets include smartphones, tablets, laptops, and POS machines, providing recipients with access to digital tools that would help them improve their businesses, education, and overall livelihoods.
“I would like to express my profound gratitude to the state governor for his visionary leadership and continued support for the advancement of small and medium enterprises in Bauchi State and for making this initiative a reality.
“We are not in this for notoriety, but to paint the right colours on the fabric of history so that posterity will be right by us.”. He said.
