abdulrazak
Kwara
Kwara Govt Empowers 21,623 Petty Traders under Social
Investment Programme
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved the
disbursement of funds to 21,623 beneficiaries of the state’s
interest-free micro-finance loans for petty traders, a component of
the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP), a statement
said on Thursday.
The operations of the first phase of disbursement will last for
five weeks.
The disbursement comes after months of careful enumeration of
the potential beneficiaries of the scheme, according to the
statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Rafiu
Ajakaye.
The statement quoted the anchor of the programme Mohammed Brimah
as saying that beneficiaries cut across the 16 local governments of
the state.
“The disbursement of funds to the beneficiaries of Owo Isowo
begins today. We are looking at disbursing to 21,623 persons for
this phase. Due to COVID-19 and the need to maintain social
distancing, we will be communicating venues to beneficiaries as we
get to each local government,” the statement quoted Brimah as
saying.
“Owo Isowo is an interest-free loan of a minimum of N10,000.
Beneficiaries are to pay back over six months in bits that are
comfortable to them. It is to support our petty traders in
upscaling their businesses.
“The processes began early this year. Some of our activities
were affected by the COVID-19 lockdown but we are back on the track
with disbursement for petty traders that applied as earlier
announced. The issue of mixed identities does not arise. We have
bankable data to guide us. Whoever was not captured or does not
merit the funds cannot be given.”
The statement said disbursement will be made through digitised
payments called mobile wallets.
It enjoined beneficiaries who have been contacted to come to the
ground with their face masks.
Rafiu Ajakaye
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
September 3rd, 2020.