Petty Traders, Artisans Laud Delta Grants Scheme

Over 5,000 persons from poor and vulnerable households in Delta State have benefitted from the ‘MORE’ Grant Scheme for petty traders, artisans and female entrepreneurs of the state government.

The initiative which held in Asaba was a comprehensive support system that empowered 5,426 Deltans comprising 1,600 petty traders, 1,826 artisans and 2000 female entrepreneurs across the state.

Some of the beneficiaries, Mr Paul Onwochei (Delta north); Ogemuno Endurance (Delta central) and Shodipe Sarah (Delta south), thanked Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for providing money for them to expand their businesses and called on him to sustain the programme to pave the way for more Deltans to benefit.

Speaking after the formal launch of the scheme, convener of Integrity Group of Delta State (lGDS), Dr Oke ldawene, said the scheme represents a beacon of hope and a catalyst for positive change as the programme provides critical resources that would help scale up businesses and improve livelihoods.

He said the project was anchored on three phases with each carefully designed to empower specific segments of the state for over 5,000 beneficiaries.

While saying the grant scheme is dedicated to empowerment, he said young women with the resources and mentorship needed to grow their businesses and inspire other women to follow good footsteps.

On infrastructure development, he said the Phase 1 of the Emevor-Orogun Road in Isoko north local government area has been completed and would be inaugurated this month.

ldawene equally mentioned the groundbreaking ceremony of the College of Health Technology Ovrode, in Isoko north local government area.

“Governor Oborevwori has also ensured the construction of projects for the take-off of College of Medicine at the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro,” he said.

The commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Community Support Services and Girl-Child Development, Orode Uduaghan, disclosed that the first phase of the project ‘targets the heartbeat’ of the local economy of the state, the petty traders who, she said, contribute immeasurably to the tapestry of communities in the state.