BY IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
Not less than 500 informal businesses in Edo State run by widows have received grants to boost their business ventures.
The cash transfer to the widows is coordinated by the Edo State Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Office.
The grant, according to the focal person, Edo SDGs, Eire. Ifueko Alufohai, was donated by Access Bank to the state government in support of the unskilled labour force in the state.
Confirming receipt of the grants, beneficiaries who spoke to journalists commended the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led state government for always prioritizing their welfare and bringing succour to widows in the state.
Mrs. Agho Florence, a petty trader in Ovia North-East Local Government Area, said the government has continued to prioritize the welfare of widows in the state, taking nuanced steps to alleviate their sufferings.
She said, “I want to thank Governor Godwin Obaseki for his efforts at improving the livelihoods of Edo people, including widows and other indigent persons in the state.
“The financial support is quite timely considering that we are going into the festive seasons. Already, I have channelled mine into my pure water business and hope that I make more sales so as to increase my profit. I commend the Governor and other partners who made this possible.”
Another beneficiary, Mrs. Enahoro Elizabeth in Sakponba Road axis, said the grant has given a facelift to her business.
“You don’t know what this support really means to a petty trader like me? I sell Oranges, Cocoyam and Garri, and with the rise in prices of commodities in the market, restocking was a problem. But with this grant, I have been to the market to restock and am ready to go into the season and make better profit. I thank the Governor and Access Bank for coming through for me and my family.”
Also, a widow in Amagba Community, Mrs. Osemwingie Dora said she intends to use the grant to support her firewood business, adding “I received my own N10,000 today and I intend to channel it into my firewood business. Considering the rise in the price of cooking gas, I envisaged a boom in our firewood business but didn’t have money, because I feed my family from this my small business.
“And today God has used Governor Obaseki to answer my prayers. I thank the governor for always putting the people at the forefront of every programme embarked upon by the government. Widows in Edo are specifically proud of him.”