Ogun State Government has commenced the second phase of the disbursement of the N1 billion grant to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as part of its efforts to alleviate poverty and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on businesses in the state.
The Commissioner for Industry, Trade, and Investment and a member of the Ogun State COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (OGUN CARES) Steering Committee, Mr. Adebola Sofela, in a statement on Monday, announced that Governor Dapo Abiodun had directed the immediate commencement of the disbursement processes for the second phase of the grants for the benefits of entrepreneurs in the state.
The commissioner hinted that a stakeholder engagement session would be held for legitimate business owners in the Ogun Central Senatorial District at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, on Tuesday to kick-start the second phase.
He explained that the objective of the sessions was to provide participants with information about the application process and criteria for eligibility and that the dates and time for the stakeholders’ engagement sessions in Ogun West and East Senatorial Districts would be communicated to the stakeholders at a later date.
The commissioner assured: “We believe that this grant will provide much-needed relief to businesses in our state. We appreciate your continued support and encourage you to stay informed about future updates regarding the disbursement process.”
It would be recalled that in the first batch, over N120 million was disbursed to more than 1,000 micro and small entrepreneurs in the 20 local government areas of the state, with the beneficiaries expressing their gratitude in an appreciation letter addressed to the governor.
Some of the trade associations, representing the beneficiaries during the session on Monday, include the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), Joint National Association of Persons Living With Disabilities (JONAPWD), Artisans Groups, and Market Men and Women, who commended the governor for his support during the challenging time.
The participants highlighted the significant increase in operational expenses and the struggle to pay workers’ salaries, as well as the costs of operational gadgets, utilities, and renting shops.
