Economic Crunch: Warri South Council responds to capital deficiencies of 250 micro entrepreneurs

In a bid to mitigate the capital deficiencies being faced by small scale business operators as a result of the economic crunch triggered by energy crisis, Warri South Local Government Council in Delta State, on Tuesday January 31, presented Point-of-Sale, PoS Machines and money to 250 micro-entrepreneurs.

Highlights of Warri South Local Government Council Entreprise & Empowernment Programme;

Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Dr. Michael Tidi, who spoke at the Warri South Council Main Secretariat in Warri, during the event tagged, ‘Warri South Local Government Council Entreprise & Empowernment Programme’, explained that the plan of action, was in: “Response to the observed deficiencies in the capital base of small scale business operators and lack of investment in human capital development at the grassroots, resulting to uneven distribution of resources to the poor and vulnerable”.

Dr. Tidi, who admitted that the task of changing the narrative of Warri South, has been challenging and extremely difficult, noted that progress was being made in that direction.

“Having provided the infrastructural platform for the development of Warri and for commerce to thrive in my administration, in line with His Excellency's (Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa) Youth Empowerment Programme, we decided to focus on human development programmes, wherein some small scale business operators in the Local Government Area, who are at the bottom of economic pyramid have been identified for inclusion to access Micro Credit towards boosting their businesses.

Chief (Dr.) Roland Oritsejafor (left) presenting sample of the PoS Machine &  Prototype Cheque to one of  the micro entrepreneurs

“At the inception of my first tenure, we renovated the Council Secretariat to give it a befitting face look. Thereafter, embarked on the rehabilitation of existing boreholes within the Local Government Area with a view to providing portable water for our people. After the renovations, it was observed that the renovated boreholes were insufficient, the Council then embarked on the construction/ sinking of 21-water scheme across the wards in the Local Government Area and many more water projects are in different stages of completion. Including other infrastructural project that would give our people a new lease of life. This includes provision of solar light, provision of furniture to some schools, renovation of schools, rehabilitation of roads, Construction of a befitting Chairman's Residential Quarters and many more projects.

“You may recall, also that my administration, being poised towards changing the narrative of the cosmopolitan city of Warri, hosted the first and second Warri Economic Summits wherein captains of industries, were gathered to redesign the road map of Warri.

Mr. Johnson Agbeyegbe, presenting prototype cheque to another beneficiary

“The beneficiaries / recipients were drawn from the National Social Register of Delta State through the Community Based Targeting (CBT) identifying the poor and vulnerable in the communities of Warri South Local Government Area. The Council thereafter decided to empower 250 beneficiaries carefully selected across the Local Government Area Fifty (50) of the recipients today would be engaging in Point of Sales (POS) operation. They will in this programme receive their POS machines and direct transfer of Seventy Thousand Naira (N70,000) to enable them carry out their businesses, while 200 recipients would receive direct cash transfer of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000) each to support their businesses.

“Permit me to announce to you that more of this empowerment programme would be coming up in no distant time, however; the continuity of this empowerment would be determined by how judicious and efficient the recipients today would put the resources to use. We will be encouraged to do more when we observe that recipients are committed to their business. Remember, the council has the details of all the recipients as such, would be monitoring the extent to which this opportunity will be utilised by the beneficiaries. Possibly, in the subsequent empowerment programme, some of them who will distinguish themselves would be invited for brief recognition. It is hoped that this empowerment programme will rejuvenate the spirit of commerce in the Local Government Area”, the Warri South Council Boss, explained.

He used the occasion to advise eligible voters yet to collect their Permanent Voter card, to take advantage of the extension announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to enable them vote credible leaders in the forthcoming polls.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Chineye Sunday, commended the Dr. Michael Tidi administration for the gesture, assuring that the financial support would be judiciously deployed.

A Cross Section of the micro-entrepreneurs, in-company of Dr. Tidi & his wife, Mrs. Juliet Tidi & Vice Chairman of Warri South Local Government, Chief (Mrs.) Divine Iniovosa

Highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of PoS machines and prototype cheques to some of the micro-entrepreneurs by Dr. Michael Tidi, Vice Chairman of Warri South Local Government, Chief (Mrs.) Divine Iniovosa, Chairperson of Warri South Local Government, Mrs. Juliet Tidi, Chief Omolubi Newuwumi, who represented the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, Chief Francis Ugbejevun, who represented the Ovie of Agharha-Warri, Chief (Dr.) Roland Oritsejafor, Political Adviser to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Hon. Omimi Esquire, Rev. Canon David Otofia, Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party in Warri South Local Government, Mr. Johnson Agbeyegbe, Hon. Griftson Omatsuli, Mr. Amah Agbajoh, as well as representatives of the members representing Warri South Constituencies I and II in Delta State House of Assembly.

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