Not fewer than 1,500 business owners across all the 20 Local Governments in Ogun State have been selected to benefit from N1 Billion Operational Grant for Micro and Small-Scale Enterprises in the State.

          Speaking in Abeokuta, during the Enumeration and Vetting Exercise for beneficiaries, the Project Manager, of Ogun State COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (OGUN CARES), Mrs. Olusola Arobieke, said the main purpose was to cushion the effect of the pandemics on the Micro and Small-Scale business owners.

          Mrs. Arobieke noted that about 16,000 business owners have been nominated to benefit from the grant in all three Senatorial Districts of the State, revealing that the 1,500 that were captured under the 1st batch would receive the alert within 24 hours.

          She said, "The exercise has been on for some time. The main idea of the N1 Billion grant was to serve as relief from COVID-19 Pandemics for Micro and Small Enterprises in all three Senatorial Districts of Ogun. The beneficiaries may not necessarily be indigen, but as far as they have a business establishment in the State".

          In their appreciative note, Mr. Israel Ariyo, a boutique owner in Ijebu-Ode Local Government, and Olamide Olatunde, owner of Beauty and Cosmetics Shop in Ado-Odo, Ota Local government, posited that the grant would help to lessen the burden of obtaining a loan and make their business to move on faster.

                Also, a photographer from Abeokuta South Local Government Olawummi Okunlola, and Hon. Tairat Adebanjo, a trader from Odogbolu Local Government said the grant would be spent to acquire new gadgets and expand their business, appreciating the Prince Dapo Abiodun administration for promoting individual prosperity.