The Bayelsa State governor, Senator Douye Diri, has presented a grant of N200 million to 840 beneficiaries under the government’s Women and Youth Empowerment Programme for small and medium-scale entrepreneurs (SMEs).
The grant was presented to four beneficiaries each from the 105 political wards across the eight local government areas of the state for January and February 2023.
It is part of the administration’s initiative to spur micro-businesses and economic growth in the state, with each beneficiary getting N200,000.
Addressing the beneficiaries, the governor said the programme, which has been running for 11 months, has empowered 2,310 women and youths so far, noting that his administration was encouraged by its impact on the beneficiaries.
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“We are encouraged that this programme has impacted lives. This initiative of the Prosperity Administration is designed for small and medium-scale enterprises. Human capacity development is key to our government,” he said.
The governor said 404 youths were sent to CSS Farms in Nasarawa State for hands-on experience. “They are back in the state, and we have given them seed money, and most of their equipment have also arrived.”
The State Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Faith Opene, said a total of 2,310 Bayelsans have so far been empowered through the initiative.
Youpele Seimokumo, Ebiye Yalla, Omasirmo James and Blessing Oyinbunugha, who represented beneficiaries from the LGAs, lauded the initiative, stating that the empowerment boosted their businesses.
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