By Victoria Onehi
The Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA) has disbursed N195 million naira grant to 800 Micro,Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the FCT.
While disbursing the funds to some of the beneficiaries in Abuja on Friday,the Acting Managing Director AEA, Mal Shehu Abdulkadir said the FCT- AEA CARES project is focused on supporting MSMEs to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
” We have disbursed the grant in three fold today.First,is the Credit grant, Operational grant and the Technology enhancement grant. Today,we are disbursing N195 million naira to 800 MSMEs in the FCT. It s a two years World Bank project in which 3.5 million US dollars grant will be given to over 3000 MSMEs in the FCT. We have given the fiirst batch today.”Abdulkadir said.
The Chairman FCT CARES Steering Committee Mr Agboola Lukeman Dabiri, said the programme was designed to support MSMEs through Cash Transfers,provision of basic services through community development,Food security by support for farmers with agricultural inputs and supporting viable enterprises.
One of the beneficiaries from Abaji Area Council,Joy Haruna had this to say. “I am very happy for this N100,000 grant from Abuja Enterprise Agency.I have a restaurant.With this money,i am going to expand my business and we will grow bigger.” She said.
The Chairman of Abaji Area Council,Abukakar Umar Abdullahi said with this grant,AEA has been able to reach MSMEs in the six Area Councils accross the 62 wards of the FCT.
