FG targets 22,000 business owners in Kogi for Conditional Grant Scheme
The Federal Government has targeted 22,000 business owners in Kogi for its N50,000 grant under the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme (PCGS) to boost Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The Managing Director, Kogi Enterprise Development Agency (KEDA), Mr Muhammed Okeji, said this at the enrolment for the programme on Thursday at the palace of Ohinoyi in Okene.
Okeji said that the scheme was being implemented by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment through the Bank of Industry (BOI) in partnership with the Kogi Government.
He said that this was in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
He said that the PCGS enrolment for beneficiaries of nano businesses had been launched simultaneously
by the government on Wednesday across the three senatorial zones of the state.
He said that the beneficiaries would receive N50, 000 each as grant to boost their nano businesses and improve sustainability.
“The PCGS is aimed at ameliorating the harrowing effects of the fuel subsidy removal, to provide a one-off grant of N50, 000 to over 22,000 nano business owners across the state.
“We are grateful to Mr President for the impactful initiative at a time of stiff economic challenges for both businesses and the generality of Nigerian citizens.
“Mr President’s gesture is a sensitive step towards safeguarding the small business ecosystem which is the livewire of the nation’s economy,” he said.
Okeji expressed gratitude to Gov. Ahmed Ododo for keying into the initiative and providing adequate resources to draw down the benefits to thousands of nano businesses owners in the state.
“The governor is not failing in his determination to strengthen the MSMEs which remains the backbone of the nation’s economy,” he said.
He said that the the enrolment was being done by officials of BoI, saying it was expected to continue until Friday, while disbursement would follow immediately.
In his remarks, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, HRM Alhaji Ahmed Tijani-Anaje, commended Tinubu for the programme and eulogised Ododo for ensuring that a larger number of residents benefited from the scheme.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okeji went round enrolment centres in Okene and Lokoja to monitor the exercise.
One of the beneficiaries, Oyiza Bajeh from Adavi, thanked the President for the gesture, and appreciated the Kogi governor for deeming it fit to bring the programme to the grassroots.
“When I received a text message from BOI to come for data capture, I dismissed it as one of those scams. But upon a second thought, I decided to give it a tryer.
“Surprisingly, I met huge crowd of market women, youth and even people with disabilities here at the Ohinoyi palace who are also here for the exercise.
“We are very grateful to President Tinubu and Gov Ododo for the gesture,” Bajeh said. (NAN)
