Bayelsa state governor, Senator Douye Diri has said he was recommitted to the growth and development of small and medium scale enterprises in the state.
To this end, the state government through its programme tagged: ‘women and youths empowerment scheme’ has commenced the disbursement of N200,000 each to beneficiaries of the September phase of the programme across the state.
National Wire which monitored the programme in Yenagoa, the state capital reports that no fewer than 210 women and youths across the eight local government areas of the state were beneficiaries of the September edition of the empowerment programme.
Speaking to Newsmen who monitored the event in Yenagoa, the coordinator of the programme and state Commissioner for Women, Children Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Faith Opene stated that the empowerment scheme was borne out of governor Diri’s will to support and encourage Bayelsans to thrive in their businesses and own the state’s local economy.
The Commissioner said: “The payment is made to two persons each across the One hundred and Five (105) wards of the state, making it a total of two hundred and ten (210) beneficiaries for the month of September.
“So far, a total of One thousand, Six hundred and eighty (1680) persons have been empowered since the programme started in February 2022, during the Second year anniversary celebration of the Governor Douye Diri’s-led Prosperity administration.
“This empowerment programme is expected to run throughout the life time of the first tenure of this administration”.
She lauded Governor Diri for his exemplary and exceptional commitment to issues bordering on the empowerment of women and youths, just as she urged beneficiaries to invest the grant given them to their already existing business, warning against squandering it.
Also speaking a cross section of beneficiaries commended the state governor for his magnanimity and continued desire to develop the state’s private sector, describing the governor as one with an open heart who has shown good leadership qualities in his dealings with Bayelsans across boards, while pleading to make judicious use of the funds provided them by the state government.
