110 Widows Get Free Grinding Machines

The Edo State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Donald Oskhena, has  said that more than 110 widows benefited from the free grinding machines distributed to widows by the State Government in Benin.

Osikhena made the announcement while briefing the state’s House of Assembly on the ministry’s 2012 budget performance.

Osikhena said the machines were given together with N10,000 cash, adding that the money was to enable the widows to start businesses.

He noted that the machines were distributed across the 18 local government areas of the state, pointing out that five widows from each area got the item.

The commissioner told the House that some welding machines were also distributed to welders across the state by the ministry.

“The distribution of grinding and welding machines was aimed at ensuring that poverty is reduced in the state,’’ he said.

He said that a total of 500 unemployed youths were empowered with N500,000 each as loans by the ministry.

“This effort is to take as many youths as possible out of the street. It is a loan and not a grant which they must pay back within a period of time.

“These loans are to be paid back through the small and medium scale committee which has been fused into the ministry,’’ he added.

The commissioner told the House that the ministry raised the state’s revenue profile by N26 million.