Chairman of Warri South local government, Hon. Mofe Edema says his administration decided to include 6 men in the second round of loan disbursement for beneficiaries of the council’s micro credit scheme “to test-run what will happen in February 2011”.
The Warri South Council boss who further explained that the purpose is to show the men and youth that his administration has them at heart, warned that those who do not pay back will face the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Hon. Edema noted that those who pay before time will have an increase in subsequent disbursements and advised the beneficiaries not to share the N100,000.00 interest free loan with anyone.
The Hon. Commissioner, Special Duties on Micro Finance, Dr. Antonia Ashiedu in an address described Hon. Edema as a politician with a difference. The former Executive Assistant to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan on Micro Credit opined that if other local government councils emulate Warri South local government council by complementing the state government’s micro credit programmes it will improve the lot of the people. She disclosed that any beneficiary of the Warri South Micro Credit Scheme who pays promptly “will benefit in the state micro credit programme” and an undisclosed package will be given to that person.
Unlike the flag-off scheme in November 2010 that had 190 women beneficiaries, a total of 199 women and 6 men from the 19 wards that make up the council benefited in the second round of the scheme. Commencement of payment in the loan scheme starts 6months after collection and will last for a maximum of 3years. A total of N20,500,000.00 was disbursed via a Warri based Micro Finance bank to beneficiaries in the second round, while the third round of beneficiaries will have theirs February 2011.
Meanwhile, Hon. Matthew Mofe Edema has doled out N1million cheque to disabled persons in Warri South local government for skill acquisition, with a pledge to personally ensure judicious use of the fund.
Addressing hundreds of physically challenged persons under the auspices of Warri South Chapter of Joint National Association of Persons with Disability at the council secretariat in Warri, Hon. Edema disclosed that his administration will include 25 physically challenged persons in the February batch of empowerment scheme for small scale business owners. He asked the Warri South Chairman of the association to liaise with his office with a view to identifying members who are in need of hearing, walking and other aides so as to enable the council assist them.
To further match his words with action, the Warri South Council boss gave out a 100 dollar cheque to one Mgbalagun Philip, a physically challenged student of College of Education, Warri who needs N15,000.00 to complete his final project work and directed the chairman of physically challenged persons in the area to liaise with his office with a view to identifying other students in the association who requires financial assistance.
The Delta State President of Physically Challenged Persons with Great Abilities’ Association, Comrade Ogbruche Isaac Omoh as well as the State Secretary, Comrade Williamson Onoweya in their reactions, described Hon. Edema’s gesture as unprecedented in the history of local government administration in Nigeria and enjoined other local government councils to emulate the gesture.
In his response, the Chairman, Warri South Chapter of Joint National Association of Persons with Disability in Nigeria, Comrade Eyefujinrin Ishmael described Hon. Edema as a man sent by God for the physically challenged and thanked the re-elected Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan for employing over 30 of its members into the state civil service last year.
Two of the beneficiaries, Agnes Gada, a nail and padlock trader and John Ishakpada, a 14-year voluntary traffic Officer thanked the Warri South Council boss for his assistance and appealed to him not to rest on his oars.
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