Stakeholders from across Nigeria’s South-South region gathered in Asaba on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, for the NG-CARES South-South Zonal Independent Verification Agents (IVAs) Performance Review Meeting.
The high-level session brought together officials of the World Bank, the Federal Government, state governments, and key implementing partners to assess the impact of the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Programme and to map out strategies for its next phase, NG-CARES 2.0.
The NG-CARES Programme, introduced at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, was designed as an emergency response to cushion the social and economic shocks caused by the global health crisis.
Over time, however, it has evolved into a far-reaching development platform targeted at reducing poverty, improving livelihoods, and supporting smallholder farmers, micro and small enterprises, and vulnerable households.
Speaking at the meeting, Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Kingsley Emu, lauded the collaboration between the World Bank, the Federal Government, and the participating states.
He described NG-CARES as “a transformative intervention that has moved beyond crisis management to become an enduring instrument for grassroots development.”
According to the governor, Delta State alone has directly supported over 306,177 individuals and indirectly impacted an estimated 1.2 million people since the programme’s launch.
He said the intervention has made tangible contributions to poverty reduction, inclusive growth, and community empowerment, adding that it stands as proof of what coordinated efforts between international partners and domestic institutions can achieve.
Governor Oborevwori further emphasized the central role of Independent Verification Agents in sustaining the credibility of the programme.
“The IVAs have been the backbone of transparency and accountability in NG-CARES,” he said.
“The outcomes of this review will guide their re-engagement in NG-CARES 2.0, which will adopt a Community Action approach—allowing communities themselves to identify their most pressing needs, design solutions, and implement projects such as social infrastructure development for greater long-term impact.”
In his remarks, the World Bank Task Team Leader, Mr. Lire Ersado, reaffirmed the Bank’s strong commitment to NG-CARES, announcing a fresh $700 million facility to sustain the programme nationwide.
He praised Delta State’s dedication to counterpart funding and effective implementation, noting that the state has set a benchmark for others.
He explained that the programme continues to prioritize measurable outcomes in sectors such as agriculture, small business support, and social protection, particularly targeting smallholder farmers and vulnerable households.
Ersado noted that Delta’s achievements stood out at the national level, with the Federal Government having accessed N2.2 billion to scale up interventions in the state.
“Delta has demonstrated consistency and accountability in implementation, and that is why the impact is visible not only in numbers but also in the lives changed across communities,” he stated.
Earlier, the Delta State D-CARES Coordinator, Lady Dr. Pat Ogbewe, officially welcomed participants from Cross River, Bayelsa, Edo, and Delta States.
She highlighted the significance of the review exercise, pointing out that similar zonal reviews were taking place simultaneously in Nasarawa and Kebbi States.
According to her, the assessment of IVA performance is not merely a technical process but a crucial step in safeguarding the integrity of NG-CARES.
“The credibility of this programme depends on accountability and measurable results,” Ogbewe stressed.
“Our duty is to ensure that every kobo invested delivers tangible benefits to the communities it is meant to serve.”
She further expressed optimism that the deliberations in Asaba would lay the groundwork for a more inclusive, community-driven NG-CARES 2.0.
Beyond the speeches, the Asaba meeting also featured technical sessions where stakeholders reviewed implementation reports, exchanged best practices, and addressed challenges encountered in the field.
Discussions covered issues such as monitoring mechanisms, community participation, sustainability of projects, and the integration of NG-CARES with other state-level social investment initiatives.
Observers noted that the proposed Community Action approach for NG-CARES 2.0 represents a shift towards deeper grassroots participation.
Unlike the first phase, which was largely top-driven, the new model is expected to give local communities a stronger voice in deciding which interventions matter most, whether in agriculture, education, health, or social infrastructure.
The outcomes of the Asaba review will feed into a consolidated national report, which will guide the re-engagement of IVAs and inform the rollout of NG-CARES 2.0 across the country.
For many stakeholders, the meeting marked a turning point, ensuring that lessons from the first phase are not only documented but also used to deliver stronger, more sustainable impacts in the second phase.
As the session drew to a close, there was broad consensus among participants that NG-CARES remains one of Nigeria’s most significant social protection programmes in recent years, one that has proven effective in bridging gaps exposed by the pandemic and in setting the stage for inclusive, community-led development across the nation.
