The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) through the Small Scale Enterprise Department (SSE) and Women Empowerment Branch has flagged off the disbursement of N20,000 loans to 228 beneficiaries of Micro Enterprise Enhancement Scheme (MEES) in Sokoto.
Speaking on the rationale behind the loan facility, Sokoto State Coordinator of NDE, Mrs Eunice DanMallam, said its part of the Federal Government’s programmes towards assisting petty business owners to scale up.
Danmallam, who spoke on behalf of the Director General of NDE, Malam Nuhu Fipko, assured that the flexibility of the loan will no doubt help small business owners to expand their trade.
Fipko said, ” The sum of N20,000 will be given to each of the beneficiary. They are ,however, expected to pay back with 9 per cent interest and within 18 months.
“They will not pay anything within the first three months of obtaining this loan. But after that, they will start paying N1,200 monthly for the remaining 18 months period’.
Fikpo, who appealed to beneficiaries to make good use of the loan, further disclosed that a total of 8, 126 beneficiaries across the country will benefit from the MEES.
Responding on behalf of the female beneficiaries, Hajara Babi, said they have diverse associations with some into local juice (Zobo), groundnut cake, oil, plaiting, sewing and even in baking business.
She further thanked the NDE for such a gesture, adding that it will go along way in boosting their incomes.
For the male beneficiaries, Isiaku Musa, who spoke on their behalf, appealed to the Federal Government to speedily find an end to insecurity, as according to him, the development is negatively affecting all of them.
