Okowa disburses N115m to 2, 300 artisans, others

Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

Delta state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa on Friday disbursed N115 million as working capital to artisans in the state to boost their businesses.

The grant in excess of N115 million was being disbursed to 2, 300 artisans across the 25 local government areas of the state.

Executive Secretary, Delta state Micro Small and medium Enterprises Development Agency (DSMSMEDA), Shimite Bello, who spoke to journalists in Asaba on behalf of the state governor, said the beneficiaries include, welders, barbers, fashion designers and hair dressers.

Bello said that while barbers and hair dressers had 750 beneficiaries each, the welders and fashion designers had 300 and 500 beneficiaries respectively, adding that out of 2, 300 beneficiaries, 1, 700 of them received their packages from the disbursement that began barely a week ago, adding that the remaining beneficiaries would be attended to in the next few days.

She said that “you would recall that this administration within the past three years and half has been doing a lot of empowerment and only today, the state governor, decided to extend the empowerment programme to artisans in the state.

“Currently, he is doing what we call grant in-aid to artisans which include, welders, hair dressers, fashion designers and barbers. We have taken care of different groups in the state, particularly transporters and butchers. Last week, we started dealing with the welders and hair dressers.”