The Federal Government has launched the third phase of its Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), branded as Renewed Hope GEEP 3.0 (RHGEEP 3.0), with a goal of reaching five million beneficiaries by 2027.
The programme was officially unveiled on Thursday at a national stakeholders’ roundtable in Abuja by Badamasi Lawal, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).
Lawal said RHGEEP 3.0 represents a recalibration of the scheme, built on trust, consistency, and accountability, and designed to expand access to credit for small businesses while promoting financial inclusion.
“This gathering reflects our collective commitment to deepen financial inclusion, expand access to credit for small businesses, and empower our people, particularly women, youth, artisans, petty traders, and smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of Nigeria’s informal economy,” he said.
The scheme, which began under the National Social Investment Programmes, provides micro-credit through initiatives like TraderMoni, MarketMoni, and FarmerMoni. According to Lawal, RHGEEP 3.0 is not just a continuation but a shift in approach.
He stressed that the new phase aims to:
- Rebuild trust with beneficiaries and stakeholders.
- Ensure consistency in access and fairness.
- Strengthen accountability, especially repayment obligations.
The NSIPA boss noted that lessons from earlier phases highlighted the need to improve repayment systems, expand digital inclusion through fintech partnerships, and deepen collaboration with state and local governments.
He commended the National Programme Manager of GEEP, along with technical partners System Strategy and Policy Lab and Sydani Group, for their role in shaping the new strategy.
Lawal emphasised that the success of RHGEEP 3.0 would depend on collaboration between government, financial institutions, civil society, and local communities, while aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
