JIGAWA, JANUARY 10, 2018 – The Information Officer of the local government, Malam Nasiru Yusif, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday.
“About 220 small scale traders in Gwiwa Local Government Area have benefited from N2.2 million as part of the state government’s economic empowerment programme.
“The gesture was aimed at supporting the traders to improve their living standard, as well as ensure self reliance among the people of the state,” Yusif said.
Yusif explained that some of the traders received N20,000 each, others N10,000 each while local food vendors received 5,000 each.
The spokesman added that the Chairman of the council, Alhaji Abdullahi, commended the state government for the gesture and urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the grant.
The Jigawa Government had, on Dec. 19, 2017, started the exercise in Dutse Local Government Area, where 2.2 million was disbursed to 220 small scale business holders to enhance their businesses.
According to the Special Assistant to Gov. Muhammad Badaru on Economic Environment, Alhaji Muhammad Mujaddadi, about of N57.4 million would be distributed as grant to 5,740 small-scale business holders across the state under the scheme.
Mujaddadi said that 20 beneficiaries would be selected from each of the 11 or 10 wards of the 27 councils.
He pointed out that the fund was not a loan, but a free gesture from the state government.
Mujaddadi said the grant was one of the present administration’s efforts at enhancing the economic status of the under-privileged people in the state.
According to him, the programme is also to encourage women, particularly those in rural areas, to engage in productive activities.
“’This money was distributed to the beneficiaries for free to enhance their small businesses.
‘’An eight-member committee was set up to select the beneficiaries, irrespective of political affiliations or backgrounds.
‘’The government just saw the need to assist small scale business holders across the state, considering the economic hardship in the state and the country at large,’’ Mujaddadi said.
He said that the gesture would be extended to the remaining 26 local government areas, where another batch of 20 beneficiaries would be selected from each of the wards.
‘’This one in Dutse is just the starting point as the committee will go to the other 25 local government areas and do the same thing.
He urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the gesture to achieve the desired goals.
