Kwara state Government on Wednesday began the distribution of a whopping sum of N600 million grant to empower at least 30,000 women and petty traders in the state.
The programme has the same features with the World Bank project (Nigeria for Women Project).
It will be recalled that the Kwara state Executive Council had last month approved the programme which would have female petty traders in the 16 local governments getting N20,000 each over the next six months.
The programme is being coordinated by the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP).
The distribution of cash assistance to the beneficiaries was flagged off in Afon, Asa local government on Wednesday.
Cash grant recipients in Ilorin West and Ilorin South also got it on Wednesday while the beneficiaries in the remaining thirteen local governments would get their own in the coming days.
‘We are giving N20,000 each to the petty traders and 30,000 people will benefit from the programme across the state. As we speak, enumeration is still ongoing to accommodate more people. But we needed to kick-start the distribution of the cash grant’ Acting General Manager, KWASSIP, Hon Abdulqowiyu Olododo told journalists including Team@orientactualmags.com in Alanamu, Ilorin West local government on Wednesday.
‘From now till Saturday, the first batch of the beneficiaries would be given the cash grant. And subsequently like a week or so, disbursement for the new entrants will continue. We are doing Ilorin West, South and Asa today. We should be able to cover about 3,000 beneficiaries under the first tranche’ he added.
Olododo, who described speculations that the selection process was political as untrue, submitted that selection of beneficiaries was a product of consultations with relevant stakeholders, including trade groups in the respective locations.
‘Some people are speculating that the selection process was political. There was nothing like political patronage in respect of the exercise. This administration is known for spreading dividends of democracy to all parts of the state and to all persons. We worked with different community people, trade bodies, and other stakeholders across the state , who helped us to identify the genuine petty traders.
This is not the first time the government is giving out Owo Isowo (trader-moni). It is the second phase of such. After disbursement, our office usually does proper monitoring and evaluation, because we have their details including addresses with us. The evaluation enables us to ascertain the impact from the beneficiaries. So far, we are impressed with the feedback and that is why we are doing it again’ he submitted.
Giving his remarks earlier before the flagging off of the programme , the TIC Chairman , Asa Local Government, Alhaji Abduganiy Saadu Atebise , said he was happy because what was unprecedented had happened while noting that this had further shown that ‘the governor is kind -hearted and good-natured’.
The concept , he added, is people-focused and will go a long way in reviving several businesses.
He hailed the government’s gesture of goodwill while assuring that the beneficiaries will use the money for the intended purpose.
Some of the beneficiaries, who spoke to newsmen, expressed their joy for the financial assistance and applauded the process leading to their pick.
Mrs. Kabira Nasirdeen, who is a grocer, said the money will help to enhance her business while thanking Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq for the business-friendly initiative.
Mrs. Ishola Memuna, a Gari seller, commended the governor for coming to their aid through such an empowerment programme and prayed for him.
Mrs Saratu Saka , an indigene of Aboto Oja, thanked the Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq administration for the gesture of goodwill and promised to use the money for the intended purpose while Bolaji Hamdalat from Ode Karatu , Ilorin, a seamstress, promised to use the money to buy needed materials that will ease things for her- Team@orientactualmags.com
Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you
