Governor is not playing politics with DMCP, Uduaghan’s aide declares

By: Tonebsky Nesta

Executive Assistant on Micro Credit to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Dr. (Mrs.) Antonia Ashiedu has declared that the Governor is not playing politics with the Delta State Micro Credit Programme, DMCP.

The Governor’s aide made the declaration Saturday July 10 at the conference hall of Governor’s office annexe in Warri while addressing a large gathering of various women groups from Delta South Senatorial district as part of her train the trainers’ course for women and other beneficiaries of the micro credit scheme in the state.

Mrs. Ashiedu while giving details of accredited micro finance banks partnering the state government in the first line of the interest free loan scheme in Delta South, expressed the state government’s displeasure at the non existence of micro finance bank in Warri North, Warri South West, Patani as well as Burutu North and South local government areas. She tasked people of the area to establish micro finance bank to give easier access to intended beneficiaries of the programme in these councils.

Dr. Ashiedu frowned at reports that some female groups such as Peculiar Women, Great Women and Strong Women in Politics are going about collecting money from people to be registered, adding that her office did not give authority to anyone or group to gather money for the programme. She stressed that no president should task its members for any processing fee, even as she noted that loan meant for each group cannot be shared, but utilized by the group to procure its goods meant for sale. While stating that items sold will determine the amount for the loan, the governor’s aide averred that programmes of this nature in the past failed because specific requirements were not determined and beneficiaries did not pay back.

Mrs. Ashiedu emphasized that the situation where intended beneficiaries are to form not less than 10 members and a maximum of 25 members does not apply to the physically challenged because the state government has offered waivers to the physically challenged not to have cluster groups before accessing the loan.

She explained that the second line of the loan scheme is being done in partnership with Oceanic Bank. According to her, the amount which ranges from 1million naira to 10million naira has 15% interest while beneficiaries are to part with 20% equity share.

The Hon. Commissioner for Youth Development, Rev. (Mrs.) Shola Williams, Barr. (Mrs.) Evelyn Aluta, Special Assistant to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan on Women Development, Delta South, Mrs. Rita Yonwuren Esquire all spoke in same vein, admonishing the women to make judicious use of the loan.

Earlier in her welcome address, Delta South Senatorial district PDP Woman leader, Evelyn Avro, stated that Governor Uduaghan has put both the Institutional framework and fund in place for the success of the programme. According to her, DMCP is carefully designed to leap-frog Delta State into an active commercial territory. She posited that the programme which is designed to reduce unemployment in Delta State is “tailored to suit economically weak persons such as economically disadvantage persons, especially women, unemployed poor, the rural population and the urban poor”.