The Jigawa Government has commenced the disbursement of N57.4 million grants to 5,740 small-scale business holders across the state.
Alhaji Muhammad Mujaddadi, the Special Adviser to Gov. Muhammad Badaru on Economic Empowerment, made this known to newsmen at the inauguration of the scheme in Dutse on Tuesday.
Mujaddadi said that 20 beneficiaries were selected from each of the eleven wards in Dutse Local Government Area.
The special adviser said the beneficiaries included local food vendors such as roasted meat (suya) and beans cake (kosai) sellers, engine oil sellers and groundnut millers.
He explained that N2.2 million was disbursed to the beneficiaries as 110 of them received N5,000 each while 55 of them received N10,000 each and 55 others also received N20,000 each.
The governor’s aide pointed out that the fund was not a loan, but a free gesture from the state government.
Mujaddadi said the grant was one of the present administrations’ efforts at enhancing the economic fortunes of the under-privileged people in the state.
He pointed out that the programme was also to encourage women, particularly those in rural areas, to engage in productive activities.
‘’This money was distributed to the beneficiaries for free to enhance their small businesses.
‘’An eight-member committee was set up to select the beneficiaries irrespective of their political affiliations or backgrounds.
‘’The government just saw the need to assist small scale business holders across the state, considering the economic hardship in the state and the country at large,’’ Mujaddadi said.
He said that the gesture would be extended to the rest 26 local government areas of the state, where another batch of 20 beneficiaries would be selected from each of the wards.
‘’This one in Dutse is just the starting point as the committee will go to the other 26 local government areas and do the same thing.
He urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the gesture so as to achieve the desired goals. NAN
