No fewer than one hundred micro and small scale business owners have
benefited from the social investment programme of Dr Kayode Fayemi.
At a flag-off ceremony for the disbursement of the money to the
beneficiaries in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi,
who was represented by the Commissioner for Finance and Economic
Development, Mr Akin Oyebode said the initiative was a well thought
out programme aimed at ameliorating the attendant financial
constraints and other social economic challenges brought about by the
covid 19 pandemic.
Governor Fayemi reiterated the commitment of his administration to
programs explicitly tailored to mitigating poverty among Ekiti people
and dwellers by opening new economic horizons for committed youths,
women and men entrepreneurs.
He said the program is an offshoot of EK -CARES initiative and falls
under the pillar 3 of the social investment agenda.
While appreciating the federal government initiative in collaboration
with the world bank at ameliorating the various challenges encountered
by entrepreneurs during the pandemic, Dr Fayemi charged the
beneficiaries to make judicious use of the grant for the growth of
their businesses.
The Governor echoed that officials of world bank and Independent
verification agents shall be visiting the beneficiaries to measure the
impact of the grant.
In his address, the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development,
Mr Akin Oyebode who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the
ministry, Mr Babasola Folorunso said Ekiti COVID-19 Action Recovery
and Economic Stimulus is aimed at facilitating recovery and enhancing
capabilities of local businesses through interventions designed to
reduce the vulnerability and cushion the effect of income-loss brought
about by the pandemic and it’s disruption to regular commercial
activities.
He said the program has recorded success through the support of the
federal government and BOSAK micro finance Bank that provided
technical assistance on project activities and result.
In his opening remarks, the Director General of MEDA in Ekiti State,
Otunba Kayode Fasae appreciated Governor Fayemi for his interest in
alleviating poverty among Ekiti residents who have been badly affected
by the scourge of COVID-19.
He said the beneficiaries have been drawn from all the local
government and Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs through three
delivery platforms.
There were goodwill messages from the Head of Service, Barr Bamidele
Agbede, GCEO BOSAK Micro Finance Bank, Mr Kola Bello and state CARES
Coordinator Bukola Ogunlade. They all appreciated Governor Kayode
Fayemi and urged the beneficiaries to channel the money to what it was
meant for.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Kolade Joshua from Emure
Ekiti appreciated Ekiti State government for deeming it necessary to
cushion the effect of income-loss caused by COVID-19 and promised to
make judicious use of the grant given to them.
The beneficiaries went home with money ranging from two hundred and
fifty thousand naira to nine hundred and fifty thousand naira.