The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Jigawa has disbursed over N1.4 million loan to 74 petty traders, including women and youths, an official has said.
The beneficiaries were drawn from the 27 Local Government Areas of the State.
The facility was disbursed under the agency’s Micro Enterprise Enhancement Scheme (MEES) by its Small-Scale Enterprise Department.
In a speech at the event on Wednesday in Dutse, the NDE State Coordinator, Alhaji Hamza Garba, said the loan was meant to expand small businesses in the state.
According to him, this effort is expected to have a multiplier effect on the beneficiaries’ immediate communities, state and nation’s economy at large.
Garba also said that each of the beneficiaries would receive N20,000 to enhance their businesses.
He, however, warned them that the money was a loan and not a grant, hence must be repaid to enable others to benefit from the scheme.
In a remark, NDE’s Loan Officer in the state, Mr Yusuf Umar urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the facility.
“Try as much as you can to use the money for what it is meant.
“Don’t deviate from the purpose and do other things that would make it impossible for you to repay.
“Also, don’t have the impression that the money is free.
“We have a task force to monitor and ensure that you do the right thing and pay back,” Umar said.
He further said that the beneficiaries were expected to start repaying the loan by instalments three months after collection.
Responding, Bashir Idris and Maimuna Usaman, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, promised to use the money judiciously.
They also promised to repay at the agreed period.