By FAITH YAHAYA, Abuja

Over five million Nigerians have applied for the third batch of the N-Power programme, it was learnt on Tuesday.

The registration which commenced on the 26th of June 2020 was scheduled to end on the 26th of July but it was extended by two weeks.

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development in a statement by the SA to the minister on Strategic Communication, Halima Oyelade said the online portal closed on Sunday 9th of August, 2020 with a total of 5,042,001 applications.

According to the federal government, 400,000 applicants will be absorbed upon conclusion of the enrollment exercise.

The Minister, Sadiya Farouq, stated that women and persons with disability will be prioritized during the selection process.

She also re-assured Nigerians that due diligence will be applied during the next stage of selection to ensure that only duly qualified applicants are enrolled.

The minister added that her Ministry will ensure that the applicants, as well as the general public, are kept fully informed on the progress of the scheme.

She also explained that the N-Power programme is aimed at providing Nigerian youths with opportunities to gain skills for employability and entrepreneurship which will also, go a long way in assisting the country towards the post-COVID-19 economic recovery.

The minister reiterated her Ministry’s commitment to the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari to lift 100 Hundred million Nigerians out of Poverty in the next l0 years.

According to her, the N-power programme is one of the platforms that can assist in the realization of that vision. (The Nation)

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