GEEP National Programme Manager Engages NIRSAL PLC on FarmerMoni Risk Management and Sustainability

As part of efforts to deepen institutional collaboration and improve programme sustainability, the National Programme Manager of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), Ibrahim Hamza Baba, has held discussions with the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NIRSAL PLC, Mr. Saad Hamidu, on partnership opportunities focused on strengthening the FarmerMoni programme and supporting the broader mandate of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).

The partnership, which was announced as the GEEP Programme Manager paid a courtesy visit to NIRSAL in Abuja, is expected to focus on enhancing sustainability frameworks, improving risk-management mechanisms for programme beneficiaries, and deepening inter-agency collaboration to support smallholder farmers and micro-enterprises across Nigeria.

Discussions between both institutions centred on how NIRSAL’s established expertise in agricultural risk management, financing and market development could complement GEEP’s grassroots reach and beneficiary network under the FarmerMoni initiative.

Key priority areas identified for potential collaboration include:

• Credit risk guarantees and co-financing: Exploring the use of NIRSAL’s risk-sharing instruments and co-financing structures to reduce lending risks and improve access to finance for FarmerMoni beneficiaries.

• Data sharing and beneficiary enumeration: Aligning data systems to improve beneficiary registration, digital records and programme targeting.

• Capacity building and technical assistance: Joint training initiatives for beneficiaries and field officers focused on productivity, financial literacy and credit readiness.

• Input supply and market access: Facilitating linkages between beneficiaries, input suppliers, off-takers and aggregation or market channels.

• Monitoring, evaluation and digital platforms: Integrating monitoring and evaluation frameworks and digital tools to enhance programme oversight, transparency and impact measurement.

• Policy advocacy and regulatory alignment: Coordinated engagement with policymakers and regulators to ensure an enabling environment for programme implementation.

Speaking during the meeting, Mr. Saad Hamidu reaffirmed NIRSAL’s readiness to collaborate with GEEP, noting that the institution’s risk-sharing products, technical capabilities and market linkages could help strengthen the FarmerMoni value chain and expand sustainable access to finance for smallholder farmers.

Mr. Ibrahim Hamza Baba, in turn, highlighted the strategic value of the proposed partnership, stressing that combining NIRSAL’s insurance and risk-management solutions with FarmerMoni’s nationwide beneficiary network could deliver a more comprehensive package of credit, inputs, training and risk mitigation for farmers and micro-entrepreneurs.

Both parties agreed on the establishment of a joint technical working group to define pilot activities, implementation timelines and operational frameworks. The process is expected to culminate in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise the partnership.

The engagement reflects ongoing efforts by NSIPA and its programmes to strengthen institutional collaboration, improve programme sustainability and enhance the impact of social investment interventions across Nigeria’s agricultural and enterprise sectors.