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SMEDAN, Senator dole out N33m to 650 Aba artisans

By BusinessNews Staff on February 17, 2014

No fewer than 650 artisans in Aba, Abia state, have received cash grants of N33million to set up small scale enterprises.

The grant, according to a statement in Abuja on Sunday, was facilitated by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe in collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria.

The statement explained that the arrangement was preceded by training of the recipients who were drawn from the six local government areas that make up Abia South Senatorial Zone.

The artisans, the statement added, were merged into 33 multi-purpose cooperative societies at 20 persons per cooperative society.

The event, which held at the Aba Town Hall on Friday, attracted traditional rulers, Aba residents, traders and party faithfuls.

Abaribe who distributed the cheques to the beneficiaries, explained that the training was originally meant for 350 persons, but enthusiastic interest of the people and the need to address the unfortunate issue of joblessness necessitated its increase to 660 artisans.

He said, “The increase in number means that the amount advanced to each person dropped correspondingly, yet what was given would definitely go a long way to aid the recipients in their chosen fields.”

The senator encouraged the recipients to ensure judicious utilisation of the funds.

Abaribe who also gave account of other achievements, assured the constituents that more and more people would be accommodated as the programme progresses adding that by doing so the unemployment problem would be drastically reduced.

The Abia State Deputy Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Petroleum, Chief Don Ubani, expressed delight in the programme and applauded Abaribe for always being thoughtful on the best way to engage the people and fight the war on poverty.

[Punch]

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