The Federal Government has launched the Grant for Vulnerable Groups (GVG), a national social investment initiative aimed at empowering vulnerable households with financial support, starter packs, and business tools to promote economic self-reliance.
In a statement issued by the Deputy Director and Head of Information and Public Relations, Attari M. Hope, the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) disclosed that more than 100 vulnerable households in Abuja received starter packs and credit alerts to help beneficiaries establish or expand small-scale businesses as part of the programme rollout.
The initiative, which forms part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is expected to be implemented across all 774 Local Government Areas of the country to improve economic inclusion and livelihood opportunities for vulnerable Nigerians.
Speaking at the launch, the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, described the initiative as a reaffirmation of government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable citizens through targeted interventions.
According to the minister, the programme represents a deliberate transition from broad-based interventions to people-centred solutions designed to directly address the realities faced by economically disadvantaged Nigerians.
He stated that the objective of the initiative was to provide direct financial assistance and productive inputs to poor and vulnerable households to help them meet immediate needs, stabilise livelihoods, and gradually attain economic independence.
The minister stressed that the intervention should not be viewed as charity but as a strategic social investment targeted at strengthening dignity, resilience, and national stability.
Also speaking at the event, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of NSIPA, Assoc. Prof. Badamasi Lawal, said the programme underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that governance positively impacts the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
Lawal noted that the Grant for Vulnerable Groups was designed not only as a social intervention but also as an economic empowerment strategy capable of restoring hope and creating pathways to dignity through entrepreneurship and financial inclusion.
He maintained that timely support for vulnerable citizens could significantly contribute to poverty reduction and social stability.
In her remarks, the National Programme Manager of GVG, Hajia Aishat Alubankudi, expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for entrusting NSIPA with the implementation of the programme.
She observed that the initiative was coming at a critical period when many households were grappling with economic challenges and declining purchasing power.
According to her, poverty weakens productivity, affects communities, and slows national development, adding that providing vulnerable citizens with opportunities rather than temporary relief would enable them to rebuild their lives and contribute meaningfully to the economy.
Alubankudi urged beneficiaries to make productive use of the equipment and starter packs provided, warning that the items were intended strictly as tools for economic empowerment and not for sale.
The GVG package combines starter packs, equipment support, credit alerts, and business guidance aimed at helping beneficiaries stabilise and grow their micro-enterprises.
NSIPA stated that the success of the programme would be measured not only by the volume of funds disbursed but also by the sustainability of businesses created, strengthened household incomes, and the broader impact on communities nationwide.
The Grant for Vulnerable Groups is part of the Federal Government’s wider National Social Investment Programme focused on social protection, economic empowerment, and inclusion for vulnerable populations across Nigeria.
