The Bank of Industry (BOI), says a total of 14,776 business owners in Ebonyi have benefited from the Federal Government’s Presidential Grants scheme in the state.
Mr Chukwudi Asiegbu, Manager of the Bank in the state disclosed this during a townhall meeting on the outcome of the grant scheme, on Friday in Abakaliki.
Asiegbu noted that each beneficiary received N50, 000 amounting to a disbursement of N738.8 million.
“The beneficiaries cut across the 13 local government areas in the state. 14,776 individuals received a sum of N50, 000 each,” he said.
The Manager added that the government has also launched a N75 billion loan to support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) nationwide.
“Today, we have a sensitisation programme and a kind of townhall meeting to educate the general public about the Federal Government Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
“The programme has a kind of three arm, the first is the Presidential Grants Scheme which N738 million has already been disbursed.
“The second is the N75 billion MSMEs loan, where business owners can ger up N5 million.
“The third is also N75 billion manufacturers fund. This is designed to support industrial-scale enterprise
“We flagged-off the N75 billion loans nationwide. Registered Business owners can access a maximum of N5 million with a competitive interest rate of 9 per cent through BOI.
“The registration has started and this is for everybody, so long a you have business doing. The public should go online, if you have a registered business in the state and you are an employer of labour,” he said.
Earlier, Gov. Francis Nwifuru, who was represented by the Commissioner for Human and Capital Development, Mrs Ann Aligwe, commended the Federal Government for the schemes and supporting the citizens on ease of doing business..
Mr Martin Zohu, Official at the Office of the Vice-President, said the townhall meeting was basically for the intervention of the Federal Government, including the grant and loan scheme for MSMEs.
A Wig Dealer dealer, Mrs Nneka Ogbonna, who is a beneficiary of the N50,000 grant, thanked the Federal Government for the support, noting that the money had helped to boost her business.
Another beneficiary, Mr Chikaodili Emma, a native of Onicha local government, also expressed happiness for the support, adding that he, his wife and sister-in-law got the N50,000 grant each.
Emma, who deals on beverages, said that the money helped him to set up his business.