By Onwa Ekor
In partial fulfillment of his earlier pledge to uplift the standard of living of the people above the level he met it on assumption of office, Cross River governor, Prince Bassey Otu, Wednesday, splashed a bulk sum of Two hundred and fifty million naira (N250m) as grant, to 500 retirees at N500,000 each.
Otu made the disbursement through the State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (MEDA) during the People First Retirees Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (REDI) programme held in Calabar.
Represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, the governor said the gesture remains an expanded reciprocity to empower retirees who have committed their prime years to the service of the State.
“The REDI is therefore one of the many measures employed by my administration to keep our senior citizens active by providing grants for medium, small and micro enterprise.
“Under this programme, some retirees are to undergo requisite training to acquire skills and upon graduation, they are offered grants to start up some businesses, this is the first exercise in the series of many more that is to come.
“My administration will be implementing same in the Central and Northern senatorial district of the State.
“For today’s event, my administration has made available a bulk sum of N250m, this money is for disbursement to 500 retirees who shall receive a grant of N500,000 each,” Otu disclosed.
Commissioner for Commerce, Hon Abigail Duke, enjoined the beneficiaries to approach the renewed responsibility with business mindsets.
“Let your ideas be guided by discipline, let the empowerment create values to others in your community so that together we can build a state where no one is left behind but where enterprise strives and everyone has a space,” Duke said.
DG/CEO MEDA, Great Ogban, remarked that the empowerment is more than money as the REDI programme ignites a multiplier effect where each retiree nano-business will create jobs, boost local economies and inspire others.
“Our retirees are not just recipients, they are pioneers of progress as the governor believes retirement is rejuvenation, not an end and today proves it.
“With this launch, REDI is ready to soar not by our strength but because we follow a leader guided by God where all things are possible,” Ogban stressed.
He informed that, looking ahead, the Agency will train 1000 retirees across the Central and Northern senatorial districts with 500 in each district, maintaining that, “this expansion will spread the empowerment wave, equip more retirees with skills and grants to start their businesses while further strengthening the State economy and fulfilling the governor’s vision.”
A cross section of beneficiaries including Ms Florence Oluohu, Ikwo Emana among others, lauded the governor for the initiative, promising to use the grants judiciously.
