Talba disburses N25 million small-business grants to 500 Yobe constituents
By Tada Juthan, Maiduguri
Honourable Fatsuma Talba has empowered 500 youths with N25 million grants to revive small-scale businesses in Yobe State.
The disbursement of grants is under the Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP) of the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN).
Addressing the graduands yesterday (Tuesday) in Damaturu, Governor Mai Mala Buni, represented by his deputy, Idi Gubana, disclosed: “The empowerment program organised by SMEDAN in collaboration with Hon. Talba was to equip 500 youths with skills and take-off grants.”
He stated that the reviving of small-scale businesses could reduce both unemployment and poverty in the state.
Emphasising the importance of collabouration to reduce unemployment and poverty, Gubana noted, “This empowerment program will make the youths productive and employers of labour in communities.”
In her remarks at the event, Talba added that the youth’s empowerment program will enable them to reap the dividends of democracy in the federal constituency.
She said that each of the trainees received N50,000 as a take-off grant to revive their business outfits in various communities in the federal constituency.
Director-General of SMEDAN, Charles Odili, represented by Mahmud Doguwa, urged other lawmakers to emulate Hon. Talba’s efforts in fighting unemployment and poverty in the country.
Odili, therefore, urged the beneficiaries to utilise the disbursed grants wisely for their economic well-being.
During the occasion, the Area Ears Community (ARCO) presented awards to Buni, as the best Northern Governor of the Year, and Talba, as the best Northern Woman of the Year.
