Ogun State Government has approved for immediate disbursement N1 billion to about 1,500 business owners across the 20 local governments as operational grant to support their micro and small-scale enterprises.
Speaking during the enumeration and vetting exercise for beneficiaries, in Abeokuta, the state capital, , the Project Manager of Ogun State COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (OGUN CARES), Mrs. Olusola Arobieke, explained that the purpose of the grant was to cushion the lingering negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemics on the MSMEs’ owners.
Arobieke disclosed that about 16,000 business owners had been nominated to benefit from the grant in all the three Senatorial Districts of the State, adding that the 1,500 that were captured under the first batch would receive the alert within 24 hours.
She said: “The exercise has been on for some time. The main idea of the N1 billion grant was to serve as relief from COVID-19 pandemics for micro and small enterprises in all three Senatorial Districts of Ogun. The beneficiaries may not necessarily be indigent, but they will benefit as long as they have a business establishment in the state.”
Some of the beneficiaries, namely a boutique owner in Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Mr. Israel Ariyo, and an owner of Beauty and Cosmetics Shop in Ado-Odo, Ota Local government Olamide Olatunde, , while appreciating the government for the support, expressed optimism that the grant would help to lessen the burden of obtaining a loan from other sources and support their business growth endeavours.
Similarly, a photographer from Abeokuta South Local Government, Olawummi Okunlola, and a trader from Odogbolu Local Government, Hon. Tairat Adebanjo, said the grant would be spent on acquiring new gadgets to expand their businesses.
They commended the State Governor, Mr. Dapo Abiodun, for promoting entrepreneurship and prosperity for MSMEs across the state.
