Abia State government says it has increased the number of beneficiaries of the NG Cares Grant from 600 persons to 5000 in the state.
The Commissioner for Digital Economy and SME, Mr. Mathew Ekwuribe who disclosed this in a sensitization meeting with SME Operators in the state, urged them to log in to cares.plax.abia to register to benefit from the grant.
The Commissioner made it clear that the present administration has a mantra of transparency and will ensure that only SMEs benefit from the grant.
He said that Dr Otti’s administration has a good plan for SME’s development in the state, pointing out that apart from creating an enabling environment, deploying technology to market what they produce beyond the shores of the state and country, the ministry will also come up with soft loans to enhance their businesses.
The Commissioner explained that the first disbursement of the grant will commence from the first week of December, assuring that the present administration is committed to the overall development of the state.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to Abia State Governor on Ease of Doing Business, Dr. Lilian Ezenwa said that the present administration recognizes the important role of SMEs in stimulating the economy of the state and is working tirelessly to enhance their businesses.
In their speeches the Director in charge of the Ministry, Mr. Ngozi Osuagwu and Program Manager of the Cares Grant, Mrs. Ruth Nwosu, said that the present administration increased the beneficiaries of grant to 5000 people. she said the grant will come in phases, and used the medium to sensitize the participants on how to fill the forms online, as well as urged them to register their businesses with the ministry.
Contributing, the Managing Director Paul Bou Nigeria limited, Eze Paul Uzuegbu who lauded the present administration for the steps taken so far in boosting SMEs, urged the ministry to set up ICT desk at the Domestic Export Warehouse at Ohiya express way, and thanked the governor for the support his administration is giving to the project.
In their speeches, Kelechi Onyeri, Prince Agwu Udensi, and Mr. Chidi Okoroafor commended the present administration for its disposition to issues affecting the people .