From Owen Akenzua, Asaba
In a bid to ensure that no one is left behind, Delta State government, through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Community Support Services and Girl-Child Development, has extended the ‘MORE’ grant scheme to the visually impaired, survivors and returnees of irregular migration and human trafficking.
The ceremony which took place in Asaba, saw 50 artisans in the category of the visually impaired and 20 survivors and returnees of human trafficking and irregular migration presented with symbolic cheques of N150,000 each.
In her opening remarks, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Community Support Services and Girl-Child Development, Ms Orode Uduaghan, charged the beneficiaries to ensure that they put the funds into judicious use for the betterment of their businesses.
“What we are giving to you is not for frivolity. I know you had a pep talk before I came in. It is for your business. Let me tell you why this is very important. If you take this money to buy a wrapper for a ceremony the clothes will be in a wardrobe thereafter. Invest a token into your business and, no matter how small the return is, over time, something will come in continuously. So, it is important to put this money into your business,” she advised.
She urged the beneficiaries to be mindful of the way they run their businesses, as government is committed to ensuring that those who improve the growth of their business through cycle one would be given consideration when cycle-two is rolled out, adding that the ministry would carry out monitoring and evaluation exercise in the next three months.
“We are going to be doing monitoring and evaluation. In the next three months, we are going to look at that business and see what you have used the money for and how far it has gone; if you have done well, maybe in the next cycle you will benefit again and even more. So, depending on how you make use of this first cycle, we will see whether you will benefit from cycle two,” she revealed.
Ms Uduaghan disclosed that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori believes in the survival of the craft industry and will empower each of the beneficiaries with N150,000.
The Secretary, Delta State Taskforce on Irregular migration and Human trafficking, Mrs Ijeoma Nwanze, lauded the state government for playing meaningful roles in reintegrating the survivors and returnees of irregular migration and human trafficking into the society.
Director of Humanitarian Affairs in the ministry, Sir Stanley Rapu, re-emphasized the state government’s commitment to uplift the living standard of the poor and vulnerable households across the state.
The State Chairman of Nigeria Association of the Blind, Mr Ediri Eddison expressed gratitude to Governor Oborevwori and the commissioner for the kind gesture extended to 50 members of his association, which he said was crucial and timely in scaling up their means of livelihood.
Nneamaka Akaeze, a visually impaired bead maker, expressed her delight, adding that the grant would go a long way in reshaping her bead-making business.
