Business
9,009 To Benefit From FG’s Post COVID-19 Grant In Rivers

Artisans and other small scale business owners in Rivers State are to benefit from operational grants from the Federal Government aimed at reducing the effect of income loss during the COVID 19 pandemic and its resultant lockdown.
The Area Manager and Director, Industrial Training Fund, Port Harcourt Area Office, Mr Idongesit Akpan, who disclosed this on Monday in a town hall meeting at its office in Port Harcourt, said 9,009 artisans were expected to benefit from the scheme in Rivers State.
Idongesit, who represented the chairperson of the Steering Committee of the Financial Fund explained that the programme was essentially to provide 333,000 artisans and transport business operators across the 36 States with a N30,000 operations grant to reduce the effect incurred during the COVID 19 pandemic and its resultant lockdown.
He explained that the aim of the scheme was to leverage duly registered and recognised associations and cluster of registered artisans and transport Organisations/ workers with the objective of having their members benefit directly from the scheme so that they can attest to its transparency and effectiveness.
The Area Manager noted that one of the core areas of concentration of the present administration has been the small scale medium enterprises ( MSNE) and artisans ecosystem with the believe that they can help the nation in terms of job creation and opportunity.
“We believe that if we as a government give skilled artisans an enabling environment for his and her skills to be harnessed,then Nigeria will be a better place.
“We therefore, urged tailors,cart pushers, barbers, plumbers, shoemakers and other trade associations to apply, process and meet the requirements which include being a member of duly registered trade association or cluster, have Bank Verification Number, own a bank account and a means of identification (ID card)”, he said.
He emphasised that the scheme and other schemes under the survival fund initiative is entirely free, stressing that the Off-Take Stimulus Scheme will also be rolled out and a number of artisans will benefit accordingly.
In his speech, the representative of the Rivers State Ministry of Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment, Mr Elemchukwu Omotu, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the Nigeria Economic Sustainable Plan (NESP) to cushion the effect of COVID 19.
Omotu urged various trade associations in the state to take advantage and ownership of the scheme to benefit, adding that this is an opportunity for those who do not have bank to open one.
By: Ike Wigodo
Business
NCAA Certifies Elin Group Aircraft Maintenance

Business
SMEDAN, CAC Move To Ease Business Registration, Target 250,000 MSMEs

Business
Blue Economy: Minister Seeks Lifeline In Blue Bond Amid Budget Squeeze

Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is seeking new funding to implement its ambitious 10-year policy, with officials acknowledging that public funding is insufficient for the scale of transformation envisioned.
Adegboyega Oyetola, said finance is the “lever that will attract long-term and progressive capital critical” and determine whether the ministry’s goals take off.
“Resources we currently receive from the national budget are grossly inadequate compared to the enormous responsibility before the ministry and sector,” he warned.
He described public funding not as charity but as “seed capital” that would unlock private investment adding that without it, Nigeria risks falling behind its neighbours while billions of naira continue to leak abroad through freight payments on foreign vessels.
He said “We have N24.6 trillion in pension assets, with 5 percent set aside for sustainability, including blue and green bonds,” he told stakeholders. “Each time green bonds have been issued, they have been oversubscribed. The money is there. The question is, how do you then get this money?”
The NGX reckons that once incorporated into the national budget, the Debt Management Office could issue the bonds, attracting both domestic pension funds and international investors.
Yet even as officials push for creative financing, Oloruntola stressed that the first step remains legislative.
“Even the most innovative financial tools and private investments require a solid public funding base to thrive.
It would be noted that with government funding inadequate, the ministry and capital market operators see bonds as alternative financing.
-
Sports3 days ago
S’ Eagles to play Venezuela, Colombia Friendlies Nov
-
Rivers3 days ago
PHCCIMA, Others Laud ‘Made In Nigeria Conferences, Exhibitions’ Organisers
-
Sports3 days ago
Boxing: Khan Brings Chaos In Ring To Lagos
-
Sports3 days ago
Golf: Olapade, Okoko reign supreme at Lakowe Classic
-
Rivers3 days ago
FTAN Marks Tourism Day With March, Awards
-
Sports3 days ago
Arsenal’s Saliba Wants to Be Best
-
Sports3 days ago
CCL: “Rivers United will get better”
-
Niger Delta3 days ago
No Hiding Place For Erring Motorists In Delta – FRSC