65 petty traders, 55 aged, and widows received N20,000 each from the Gbolahan Olusegun Yishawu’s (GOY) Micro-Business and Entrepreneurship Support Programme in Lagos.
Other beneficiaries include six students who received N75,000 each and 19 vocational graduands, who received gifts ranging from ovens to sewing machines among others.
The event was held on the sidelines of the eighth annual constituency stakeholders’ meeting held simultaneously in all 40 constituencies of Lagos State.
The driver of the support programme, Yishawu, is a lawmaker, representing Eti-Osa Constituency II at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
According to him, the programme has become an annual ritual.
“We run most of the programme during the year; we just bring the grand finale to the town hall so that the program ends on this day, “ he said.
The lawmaker said that Micro-Business was the bedrock of any nation, both locally and internationally, and critical to the economy.
According to him, an aggregate of these Micro-Business will build up the employment pool of a nation.
“So, when we support them like this, it is to help them counter the effect of inflation.
“Somebody trading with N10,000 last year cannot go back to the market and get N10,000 worth of goods.
“So, by giving them this amount to improve their businesses, we are keeping them in business; they are a very critical part of the economy, “ Yishawu said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Victoria Godfrey expressed gratitude to Yishawu for the opportunity and urged other well-meaning Nigerians to support such programs.
Godfrey had benefitted from Catering and Hotel Management under the vocational program.
“I appreciate Yishawu for giving me the equipment that will help me grow my business and enjoin other organizations to help youths in the community to grow their businesses, ‘ she said.
The support programs include Vocational Graduands Start-Up Support; Community Youth Empowerment.
Others are Artisans Support; Petty Trader; Aged and Scholarship Grants.
