Mimiko orders interest–free loan for disabled persons
ONDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has ordered the commencement of empowerment scheme for persons living with disabilities in the state.
Mimiko directed the State Micro Credit Agency to make available the sum of N20 million for the immediate commencement of the empowerment scheme, adding that there would be an increment in the initial capital as soon as beneficiaries begin to pay back.
He gave the directive while addressing members of the association who visited him in his office in Akure.
He assured persons living with disabilities in the state of window opportunity through the micro credit scheme of the state government, even as he maintained that at the completion of all documents, the loans would be distributed by next week.
The governor, who noted that the loan would be interest- free and attracts no collateral, affirmed that other demands of the guests were already implemented by government, which he said included scholarship awards and other welfarists’ programmes.
The governor also assured that a percentage would be considered for successful physically challenged persons in the recently conducted teaching service examination in the state.
He also reiterated his administration’s commitment to putting in place policies and programmes that would continue to impact positively on the socio-economic well being of the people.
Responding, the chairman of the Physically Challenged Persons in the state, Olasiyan Samuel commended the governor for his gesture and promised that the association would continue to support his administration.
The state government has also disbursed N335.4 million as loan to 5000 beneficiaries of the second batch of his government’s Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Fund initiative. This came barely a month after the government disbursed N195m to 1,430 beneficiaries under the N2bn development fund scheme.
Dr. Mimiko, while speaking at the disbursement ceremony, which witnessed a large turnout of people, described the event as another giant stride towards delivering dividends of democracy to the greatest number of the people.
He stressed that the scheme was part of his administration’s agenda at alleviating poverty and granting access to legitimate loans towards boosting micro, medium and small scale businesses.
Mimiko explained that about N1.3 billion had been disbursed to different trade groups in the state since the inception of his administration in 2009 through various loan schemes instituted by the state government.
Meanwhile, Mimiko has kicked off his government’s Cocoa Volunteer Farms Rehabilitation Methodology programme in Owena, Ondo East local government area of the state.
Dr. Mimiko said at the Cocoa Volunteer Farm Rehabilitation programme launch that his administration was determined to take cocoa products to the next level of development, stressing that the government had taken steps to diversify the economic base of the state by rehabilitating the existing cocoa and planting new breeds.
He added that the old cocoa farm in Oda, built by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the 1950s had been revamped for maximum production and to generate employment for the people.
He explained that marketing strategy had been put together through cocoa exchange in collaboration with the federal government to ensure that cocoa products were not only exported but also turned to a lobally acceptable chocolate.
He said that it was the government desire to leverage on the state’s comparative advantage as a leading cocoa producing state in Nigeria to ensure that its farmers get desirable values for their cocoa.
“We’ve put together cocoa value chains that will put more money in the pockets of our framers,” he said.
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
1 Comments
Buy Dangote Cement at a promo price 1,150 naira for buyer above 100 bags.
For more info call the sales manager Mr Mike on 08096821286 or 08058066154,
Delivery can be made all parts of Nigeria
We will review and take appropriate action.