Rivers LG boss supports SMEs with funds to tackle inflation

Mr Erastus Awortu, the Chairman, Andoni Local Government Area, Rivers, has disbursed N5 million to 20 small business operators to cushion inflation currently affecting their businesses.

Awortu made the disbursement in Ngo, headquarters of the council on Thursday, during a meeting with youth leaders and security agencies in the area.

He said that beneficiaries of the funds were entrepreneurs and smallholder business groups in the 11 wards of the council.

According to him, each beneficiary got N250,000, which is expected to further boost their businesses, especially as the economy is currently struggling with inflation.

He said that the support was the fourth phase in the series of the ongoing empowerment scheme by his administration.

The council boss noted that the empowerment scheme since inception, had extensively impacted small businesses and positively touching the lives of persons with disabilities, widows and vulnerable group in the area.

“As a council, we have been making efforts toward poverty reduction through various empowerment programmes for our people, especially our youths and women.

“Today, we are empowering 20 youths who are engaged in various small scale businesses, including fish farming, ICT, tailoring, catering and trading.

“This fund is part of efforts to encourage businesses at such a time when small and medium enterprises are struggling to survive or outrightly shutting down.

“The welfare of the people is one of the duties of the council and I will not shy away from it because when the small enterprises thrive, families and communities will be collectively alleviated from poverty,” he said.

The chairman promised to continue dialogues with oil companies to ensure youth employment so as to check piracy and other vices attributed to poverty and unemployment.

He expressed readiness to continue development of communities even as his administration runs to an end.

One of the beneficiaries, Miss Evelyn Albert, a fashion designer, commended the chairman for the gesture and promised to effectively use the fund.

Also, Miss Loveday Ugwem-oreibot, an event planner and a Confectionery commended the chairman and promised to buy oven and other materials with her money.