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… As Diri Disburses Another N50m Grants
In consonance with his empowerment and job creation as well as financial inclusion policies, the Bayelsa state government on Tuesday began the disbursement of another tranche of N50,000,000(fifty million) grant to a fresh batch of 210 small and medium scale enterprise owners in the state.
National wire which monitor the event in Yenagoa, the state capital reports that the disbursement of the N50m grant was for the December, 2022 beneficiaries, just as beneficiaries were given N200,000 each.
It would be recalled that as part of activities marking Governor Douye Diri’s second year in office anniversary celebrations last year, the administration kick-started a monthly financial support for SMEs in the state, tagged: ‘Women and Youths Empowerment Programme with benefitting individuals cutting across the 105 wards of the state.
In a word caution to beneficiaries, the State Commissioner for Women, Children Affairs, Empowerment and Social Development who also doubles as Chairman of the grant disbursement committee, Mrs Faith Opene hinted that in compliance with the extant fiscal policies of the Central bank of Nigeria, the N200,000 grants would be transferred into beneficiaries bank accounts.
She warned beneficiaries against squandering their grants, noting that the programme which commenced during the second year in office anniversary of the governor Douye Diri led ‘prosperity’ administration is intended to last to the end of the Governor’s time in office.
The Committee Chairman averred that from the inception of the empowerment programme, the state government has been releasing N50m monthly for it, saying that no person would benefit twice from it, as according to her it is difficult to manuevre the system.
The Committee Chairman said: “This Government’s baptismal name is ‘Prosperity’. Governor Douye Diri is here to make sure that our people prosper in their businesses.
“Do you know that the economy of our state is not in the hands of we as Bayelsans? Just imagine that with this N200,000 you’re able to grow your business, and with time you have one or two other persons working for you. And within a few years you’ld see yourself having empowered others too. By so doing our state Bayelsa would be better for it, it would prosper.”
Meanwhile, a cross section of beneficiaries who spoke with National Wire have lauded the state government for the initiative, promising that they would make appropriate and profitable investment with the grants
