The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched the third phase of its flagship empowerment scheme, the Renewed Hope Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (RHGEEP 3.0), with plans to reach five million beneficiaries by 2027.
The announcement was made in Abuja during a national stakeholders’ roundtable by Badamasi Lawal, CEO of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA). He explained that RHGEEP 3.0 is a recalibrated version of GEEP, built on trust, consistency, and accountability.
Focus of RHGEEP 3.0
According to Lawal, the initiative will expand access to microcredit for women, youth, artisans, petty traders, and smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of Nigeria’s informal economy.
The programme will also:
- Strengthen financial inclusion through fintech partnerships.
- Improve repayment systems to ensure sustainability.
- Promote transparency and accountability.
- Deepen collaboration with state and local governments.
Building on Past Successes
GEEP started under the National Social Investment Programmes, with components such as TraderMoni, MarketMoni, and FarmerMoni. These schemes provided small loans to millions of Nigerians, helping to grow micro-enterprises and reduce financial exclusion.
While acknowledging the impact of GEEP 1.0 and 2.0, Lawal said RHGEEP 3.0 represents a new approach aimed at scaling impact. The target is to foster a strong repayment culture while ensuring fairness and equity in loan distribution.
Partnerships and Next Steps
Lawal commended the programme’s managers, alongside technical partners such as System Strategy and Policy Laband Sydani Group, for their role in developing the new strategy. He stressed that achieving the five-million target would require active collaboration between government, financial institutions, civil society, and local communities.
