ENUGU – The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) on Wednesday empowered 100 indigent citizens of the Enugu West Senatorial Zone to start small-scale businesses.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that beneficiaries of the Federal Government Micro-Finance Grant got N10,000 each as a start-up fund.
Presenting the cash grants to the beneficiaries, the Director General of the NDE, Malam Abubakar Mohammed, said the gesture was a micro-finance programme targeted at the poor in the society.
Mohammed, represented by the South East Director of the agency, Mr Benjamin Onuoha, said the beneficiaries were drawn from nine local government areas across the three senatorial zones in the state.
The director general listed the benefitting local governments as Awgu, Ezeagu, Udi, Nkanu East, Enugu South, Enugu East, Udenu, Igboeze South and Uzo-Uwani.
“It is an empowerment programme that will enable indigent citizens to start small businesses.
“Most of the beneficiaries are women who are very poor in the society,’’ Mohammed said.
Reacting, some of the beneficiaries commended the Federal Government for empowering people at the grassroots.
Mr George Ofor from Akama-Oghe in Ezeagu Local Government Area commended the government for boosting the standard of living of the rural populace with the grant.
He said it was a pleasant surprise that the Federal Government could remember people living at the grassroots.
“I am a timber dealer but since I had an accident, I am no longer able to fund the business. Now, I deal on firewood. I will put the money in the firewood business that I am doing,’’ Ofor said.
Another beneficiary from Udi LGA, Mrs Gloria Ejiofor, promised to plough the money into efficient use.
“I feel happy and I pray God to bless President Goodluck Jonathan. I will use the money to improve my tapioca business popularly known as African salad,’’ she said. (NAN)
