Andoni Local Government Council of Rivers, on Friday, disbursed N5 million in business grants to 50 persons living with disabilities (PWD) in the area.
The Council Chairman, Erastus Awortu, distributed N100,000 to each of the beneficiaries at Ngo, the council’s headquarters.
Awortu said the money was take-off grants for beneficiaries.
The funding followed a four-day, council-sponsored training and certification, as Mobile Money Agents are referred to as POS Agents.
He said this was part of his administration’s support scheme for small businesses, focusing on poverty eradication in the area.
“This business support scheme is targeted at persons living with disabilities (PWD), unbiasedly drawn from all Wards of Andoni.
“They are now certified POS Agents, having had requisite knowledge after their training by resource persons in that field.
“We gave N100,000 and a POS machine to each beneficiary to start the business,” the chairman said.
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According to him, small-scale enterprises like Oyorokoto Fish Traders, Seafood farmers and Cassava farmers, have benefited from the programme since inception in 2021.
He, therefore, urged beneficiary PWDs to make good use of the business opportunity, to promote self reliance.
Meanwhile, some of the beneficiaries commended the council for the assistance to the community of PWD in the area.
Oke Dominic of Ward-1, said the gesture would help reduce poverty and hunger ravaging his household due to his unemployment.
Another beneficiary, Awajioniro Nte of Ward 6 Andoni, also described the gesture as a huge business empowerment.
Nte said it had taken him out of overdependence on other people.
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