In a commendable initiative aimed at empowering indigenous communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Rotary Club of Abuja Federal has announced plans to grant N250,000 each to 100 deserving men and women to promote their small-scale businesses.
President of the Rotary Club of Abuja Federal, Oluwafunmi Elufioye, while speaking to journalists in Abuja, after the “End Polio Now” road walk organised by the Rotary Club of Abuja, said that this strategy not only provides immediate financial relief in a time of economic uncertainty but also fosters entrepreneurship and sustainability within the communities.
She said that as part of their ongoing support, the Rotary Club of Abuja Federal has taken an active role in their adopted communities, primarily Kpaduma and Peyi. He said the Club’s initiatives over the past decade include vaccinations, primary healthcare support, and comprehensive awareness programmes about the importance of hygiene and disease prevention.
Elufioye explained that the importance of the forthcoming community empowerment during the present challenging economic times in Nigeria is to support small-scale businesses that have been affected by the economic challenges in the country.
“We are set to empower 100 men and women with business grants of N250,000 each. Next week, we will conduct our grants management and business support programme to provide one-on-one coaching for the recipients over the next year,” she said.
She said that the initiative is part of a broader strategy broken down into various projects aligned with the Rotary year’s cycle from July to June. Under the project umbrella, the Rotary Club emphasises a unique model of mutual assistance.
“Members of the community will receive loans that are recycled without interest, thus fostering economic independence. This has been dubbed the ‘Rotary community core,’ comprised equally of men and women from the local communities.
“The men and women will have their funds, and as they rotate the funds every three months, the money not only sustains their businesses but expands them as well. We are monitoring the process, but it is built on the trust and responsibility that our members have for one another,” she said.
The president explained that the intention is to cultivate a robust sense of accountability and teamwork among the community members while maintaining an organised oversight mechanism by the Rotary Club, saying that recipients know exactly who receives funds next and the overall structure of the grant cycle.
“This kind of support builds a sense of community and enables each member to rise together,” she emphasised.
Elufioye also said that the ongoing “Cohort 2” grant programme, launched due to the success of her predecessor, will this year focus on a smaller group of ten young individuals under the age of 35. This will allow for intensive coaching to better prepare them for entrepreneurship and skill acquisition.
While speaking on the “End Polio Now” road walk, which took place from the Old Parade Ground to Area 1 and back, she said it served two significant purposes, beyond raising awareness for polio eradication, it reaffirmed the Rotary Club’s commitment to humanitarian service.
Elufioye cautioned that while Nigeria was declared wild polio-free in 2020, circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 still poses a threat, and ongoing vigilance is critical.
Also, the polio chairperson of the Rotary Club of Abuja Federal, Rotarian Valentine Muorah, stressed the significance of continued awareness campaigns to further educate communities about the importance of vaccination.
