In order to empower at least 30,000 women and small business owners across the sixteen local governments of Kwara State, the state government on Wednesday started dispersing a massive N600m award.
The assistance, which is managed by the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP), is modeled after the World Bank’s Nigeria for Women Project, with each beneficiary receiving N20,000 to support their trades.
Asa, Ilorin West, and Ilorin South were the first local governments to receive payments, with further local governments slated to get payments in the upcoming days.
“We are paying N20,000 each to 30,000 petty traders across the State. As I speak, enumeration is still ongoing to accommodate more people. But we needed to kick-start the payment,” Acting GM, KWASSIP Abdulqowiyu Olododo told newsmen on the sideline of one of the disbursement centres at Alanamu, Ilorin West LG.
“From now till Saturday, we will be paying the first batch of the beneficiaries. And subsequently like a week or so, disbursement for the new entrants will continue. We are doing Ilorin West, South and Asa today. We should be able to cover about 3000 beneficiaries of them under the first tranche.”
Olododo denied rumors that the selection procedure was political, claiming that the list was the result of discussions with pertinent parties in the impacted areas, including trade groups.
“Some people are speculating that the selection process is political. There is nothing like political patronage about the exercise. This administration is known to spread dividends if democracy to all parts of the state and to all persons at various times. We worked with different community people, trade bodies, and other stakeholders across the State who helped us to identify the genuine petty traders,” he added.
“This is not the first time the government is giving out Owo Isowo (trader-moni). It is a second phase of such. After disbursement, our office usually does proper monitoring and evaluation, because we have their details including addresses with us. The evaluation enables us to ascertain the impact from the beneficiaries. So far, we are impressed with the feedback and that is why we are doing it again.”
Alhaji Abduganiy Saadu Atebise, the TIC Chairman for Asa, praised the State government’s gift and said the concept is people-focused and will go a long way in resurrecting various companies.
Some of the recipients who spoke with reporters expressed their gratitude for the financial assistance and praised the selection procedure.
Food vendor Mrs. Kabira Nasirdeen expressed gratitude to AbdulRazaq for the business-friendly effort and stated the money will assist grow her company.
Gari vendor Mrs. Ishola Memuna asked for AbdulRazaq to save them through such empowerment.
