The Kogi State Government officially inaugurated the NG-CARES 2.0 State Steering Committee (SCSC) to oversee the next phase of the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus program.
​The inauguration, performed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Folashade Arike Ayoade, on behalf of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, marks a strategic move to access additional financing and expand social safety nets across the state.
​The committee is designed to act as a framework for poverty alleviation and economic resilience. The program specifically prioritizes vulnerable groups, particularly women and children in rural communities, to improve their welfare and economic stability.
The committee is chaired by the Commissioner for Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning, Asiwaju Asiru Idris. The committee consists of heads of key ministries and agencies to ensure a multi-sectoral approach.
By formalizing this committee, Kogi State satisfies the requirements to access World Bank-assisted funding, which is expected to scale the number of beneficiaries significantly. Previous reports from early 2026 indicated that the first phase of NG-CARES in Kogi had already reached over 550,000 individuals through 233 micro-projects.
This new 2.0 committee is the “policy engine” intended to push those numbers even higher.
