₦50,000 Each for Small Business Owners and Other Beneficiaries as Oborevwori Expands Grassroots Support
By Yahaya Idris, Asaba
The Delta State Government has commenced a ₦5 billion grassroots empowerment programme targeting at least 100,000 small-scale business owners and other beneficiaries across the state’s 500 wards.
Under the initiative, each beneficiary is expected to receive ₦50,000, with distribution to be coordinated through local government councillors to ensure that the intervention reaches residents at the grassroots.
The Executive Assistant to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Public Enlightenment (Projects and Policies), Mr Olisa Ifeajika, disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Asaba.
Ifeajika explained that the programme was designed to complement the state government’s infrastructure projects by providing direct financial assistance to residents, particularly small-scale entrepreneurs and households facing economic challenges.
According to him, the governor considered direct financial support necessary after investing in roads, bridges, schools, healthcare facilities and other critical infrastructure across Delta State.
“Having provided critical infrastructure across the state, the governor realised that the people are yearning for something more that touches their lives directly.
“He understands that, as much as the people need airports, flyovers and roads, they also need some money in their pockets,” he said.
Ifeajika stated that Oborevwori had directed councillors across the state’s 500 wards to empower at least 200 people in each ward.
With each beneficiary expected to receive ₦50,000, the proposed distribution translates to 100,000 beneficiaries and a total financial commitment of ₦5 billion.
The government expects the intervention to support small businesses, strengthen household finances and provide additional resources for beneficiaries to meet their immediate needs.
Ifeajika added that the scheme reflected the administration’s intention to extend the benefits of governance beyond physical infrastructure to initiatives that directly affect the economic well-being of residents.
He also indicated that additional empowerment programmes would be introduced in the months and years ahead as the government continued to pursue its development agenda.
“The lives of Deltans matter to the governor. He tells us that all the time, and he describes himself as the servant of everybody,” he said.
The governor’s aide urged residents to continue supporting the state government’s development efforts, which he said combined infrastructure delivery with programmes intended to improve livelihoods and expand economic opportunities.
The ₦5 billion initiative is expected to place particular emphasis on ward-level implementation, with councillors serving as the designated channels for reaching prospective beneficiaries across the state.
However, the government’s implementation process, including the selection criteria, commencement timeline for individual ward distributions and procedures for verifying beneficiaries, will be important in determining how effectively the programme reaches its intended recipients.