NDE disburses over N1.4m loan to 74 beneficiaries in Rivers
…Says it will curb unemployment
Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt
National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has disbursed the sum of One million,eight hundred and forty thousand naira(N1,840,000) as soft loan to 74 beneficiaries in the Micro Enterprise Enhancement Scheme (MEES), under the Small Scale Enterprise (SSE) Department of the Directorate.
Addressing the beneficiaries Wednesday during the flaggoff ceremony of the disbursement in Port Harcourt, the Director General (DG) of NDE, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo said the loan is meant to expand small businesses.This, he said, in turn will have a multiplier effect on the nation’s economy.
Represented by the Rivers State Coordinator of NDE, Mrs Maureen Okeji, the DG reminded the beneficiaries that the money is a loan and not a grant and as such must be repaid to enable others benefit from the lofty scheme of the Federal Governnment.
He reiterated that despite paucity of funds, NDE is poised to creating jobs through its various schemes, charging the lucky beneficiaries to make judicious use of the loan.
“The NDE inspite of paucity of funds is determined to create jobs through various schemes and programmes. I therefore enjoin you not to use this loan to cater for your personal needs,but to expand your businesses. The expansion will in turn bring in more profits, thereby making you self reliant,”he said.
Fikpo urged the beneficiaries not to despise the days of small beginning, but should instead use the loan judiciously,bearing in mind that it is repayable to enable others benefit.
Also speaking, the Head of Department (HOD), Small Scale Enterprise (SSE) Department, Rivers State, Mrs Sylvia Barimola who said the loan is from her department to enable the beneficiaries carry out their businesses. She emphasised that the scheme is not for picnic or good time,but strictly for business. She urged the beneficiaries to judiciously utilise it.
Also speaking, the Head of Loan Unit Rivers State Branch, Barr Elo Chukwujieke admonished the 74 beneficiaries to endeavour to back the loan at record time, reminding them that it not a grant.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Vivian Briggs thanked the NDE Management and the Federal Governnment for finding them worthy for the gesture. She promised that they will live up to expectations.
Highlight of the programme was symbolic presentation of the loan to some of the beneficiaries.
