Governor Uba Sani, Deputy Governor Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, Speaker Yusuf Liman, and other Kaduna State officials gathered at Umar Musa ‘Yar’adua Hall to officially launch the Kaduna Ultra-Poor Graduation Program. The governor said the initiative will empower 2,400 rural women and youth with N300,000 each as start-up capital to grow their small businesses.
Governor Sani said, “This is not just another development program, it is a powerful statement of intent, a declaration that we will not allow poverty to define the lives or future of our citizens.”
He described the day as a pivotal moment in the state’s journey toward shared prosperity and inclusive development. He noted that the Kaduna State Ultra-Poor Graduation Programme (KADUPG) is a transformative initiative designed to sustainably lift the most vulnerable citizens from the grips of extreme poverty into economic independence and dignity.
Implemented through the Kaduna State Social Investment Programme Agency (KADSIPA), the governor explained that KADUPG combines social protection, livelihoods support, financial inclusion, and tailored mentoring. The program targets individuals living on less than three dollars a day, identified through the Kaduna State Social Register, which is regarded as one of the most comprehensive and data-driven poverty mapping systems in Nigeria.
Governor Sani emphasized that the programme focuses on women, youth, and persons with disabilities, noting that it aligns with the principles of equity, resilience, and inclusive growth. He said that in its first phase, the programme will support 2,400 beneficiaries across the state, with each receiving up to N300,000 to establish livelihood ventures. The package includes seed capital, skills acquisition, financial literacy training, business mentorship, and access to markets, all designed to ensure long-term economic stability.
“This initiative is not about temporary relief,” the governor said. “It is a springboard to self-reliance, an opportunity for our people to grow and take charge of their economic destiny.”
He stated that this new intervention builds on the administration’s continuous investment in social protection and human capital development. According to him, the vision is for a Kaduna State where poverty is not only reduced but completely eradicated, ensuring that opportunity becomes a guaranteed right for all citizens, not a privilege for a few.
At the launch event, development partners and stakeholders praised the state’s leadership and its evidence-based approach. They described KADUPG as a model for people-focused interventions that could be replicated across other states in Nigeria.
Governor Sani expressed appreciation to partners such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), Village Enterprise, the AMA Foundation, and several civil society organizations for their technical assistance and support.
“Their collaboration shows the strength of partnership in tackling poverty,” he said. “Together, we are building a system that empowers citizens to create sustainable livelihoods.”
He added that the state government is committed to crafting a new social contract that brings government, citizens, and partners together to co-create solutions that drive empowerment and inclusion.
“We are building a Kaduna where no one is left behind,” Governor Sani said. “A state defined not by the magnitude of its challenges, but by the ambition of its response.”
(News report updated October 22, 2025)