Gov Diri Empowers Bayelsa Business People.

 

Aimed at boosting the local economy of  Bayalsa  state , governor Douye Diri  empowers 2310 persons across the  105 wards of  the  state .

The programme , tagged " Women and youths " Empowerment programme is aimed at encouraging small and medium scale entrepreneurs in the state .

Each beneficiary is to take home N200,000 to boost his or her business or to start up a new business . 

In an interactive event with beneficiaries of the programme Tuesday after noon at the  Chief DSP Alamieyeaigha memorial hall in Yenagoa , governor Diri said despite the massive  infrastructural development being emabrked by his administration it would amount to nothing if the people are not empowered to use the roads .

The programme  has  been  in progress for eleven months now but Tuesday:s  event was an interactive session with benefcaries and to present cheques  to beneficiaries  of  the  new phase of the programme .

Governor  Diri disclosed that the programme  is an initiative of the prosperity administration and it was designed primarily for the small and medium scale entrepreneurs  in the state .

" Those who are selling and living on this kind of business , they have given this testimonies and to encourage those who are willing to do that  business but have no seed to start off the business.

" This programme was designed for that purpose that is why it is a monthly programme  and so we are not just talking prosperity we are working prosperity 

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" We can build all the roads , we can build all the bridges , however it is human beings that will use these roads , it is human beings that will buy cars to drive on the roads  So if we don't empower the people we are building all these roads in vain 

" And these are some of the things we considered  that  informed our decision that we need to have a running local economy  such that at the end  of the day we will have people who will start little but will grow to become millionaires.

He advised them not to look at the money as too small but "it is from this small things that big things come"

" The seed that is given to you  if you are able to pray over that seed it will multiply 

" What we are doing to you is to encourage you to plant seed", he added .

Earlier in her remarks, Mrs . Faith Opuene, the commissioner for women Affairs whose ministry is directly in charge of the program , said the programme was poised to boost  the local economy of the state  if only the beneficiaries can put it into use

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She lauded the governor for his promise to empower youths and women in the state every month . 

She explained  that it was initially  210 persons  across the  state , with two persons each from  the 105 Wards   to boost the local economy .

But governor gracioisly increased the number to four persons per Ward , two youths and two women , which is   420 per month .

" Every ward is now  four persons . Two youths and two women . It is  now 420 persons per month" , said Opuene who thanked governor  Diri for the laudable  gesture .

Accordong to the Commissioner,, 2310 persons have benefited  so far from  the programme across the state .

She noted that the prosperity administration is not only  building roads and bridges but  "we have to build the people so that the local economy will be in our hands"

"So many people.have  testified the importance.pf the programme .Before your tenure ends so.many people will be empowered", 

Highlights at the event was testimonies of success stories from  previous beneficiaries of the programme from each of the Local Government Areas  of the state .

Cheques were also presented to new beneficiaries of the programme . 

Present at the event was the Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewrudjakpo, Secretary to the state government , Alabo Gideon Ekewe and other top goverment officials.