Kunle Adelabu
Two hundred residents in lkorodu are set to benefit from the Federal Government Survival Fund Program for Nigeria Small and Medium Enterprises.
The beneficiaries of the fund, which is being facilitated by Hon. Abike Dabiri – Erewa, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), attended a verification exercise held at the Ikorodu Local Government Secretariat on Saturday, March 13, 2012.
The program is part of the Economic Sustainability Plan aimed at supporting and protecting small businesses from the potential vulnerabilities brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Michael, the Coordinator of the Fund in Ikorodu, said that many citizens have been benefitting from the fund aimed at supporting businesses.
“It’s a grant for citizens of Nigeria and people have been benefiting from it. From information available to me, many have received alerts while some are yet to believe that something like this is existing”, he said.
“It’s a federal project to support small businesses.
“As an agent, my task is to capture those whose information have been sent to Abuja and sent back to me for verification exercise.
“They are offered N30, 000 to improve their lives by investing it in their businesses and I will be doing verification exercises for 200 Lagosians in Ikorodu today”, he said.
Alhaji M.D. Hassan, Secretary of the Arewa United, Lagos East Senatorial District, who is one of the beneficiaries, commended the Federal Government for the scheme and thanked Hon. Abike for facilitating it for the benefit of residents in her constituency .
“Yes, I am one of the beneficiaries of the fund alongside ten other people from Arewa United. We got the information from the office of Hon. Abike Dabiri – Erewa”, the Hausa community leader said.
“We have been hearing about the programme because it has been in existence for a long and we appreciate the Federal Government for initiating it, especially the person that facilitated it for us, Hon. Abike”.
Alhaji Seriki Shittu, the head of Arewa community in Ikorodu and one of the beneficiaries cleared to benefit from the fund, also commended the government and the facilitator of the grant.
“I thank Hon. Abike for this and what she has been doing for Hausa people at the Sabo market. It is a good programme”.
Mrs Olaide, a trader from lkorodu, speaking to our reporter after completing her verification, said:
“This is a laudable initiative from the government and we are thankful to Hon. Abike that brought the programme to us.
“I will invest the money in my business and I believe that it will greatly improve it”, she said.
Mrs Aberuagba Awwal Adebola, also a resident of Ikorodu, while responding, said:
“I am very happy with the fund. It will be very useful for me because I have learnt a trade and will use it to start it. I will join it with the money that I have been able to garner to start my business.
“I am really happy and l thank the government and the facilitator of the scheme. God will continue to help them too”, she said.
