The senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, has facilitated the sum of N11.52 million provided by the federal government as Survival Fund for no fewer than 384 citizens of Ekiti State.
The facilitation, which commenced with capturing of all beneficiaries, was held in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday.
Bamidele, represented by his Senior Legislative Assistant, Hon. Bunmi Oguntuase, disclosed that the beneficiaries were drawn from the five local governments that constitute the Senatorial District, adding that each will receive a sum of N30,000 to establish small scale businesses that would alleviate poverty and cushion the effects of COVID-19 pandemic.
The senator, who is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, said: “The survival fund is an initiative of the federal government to banish poverty in our land. But I facilitated this to benefit my constituents considering what our people are passing through under COVID-19 pandemic.
“The beneficiaries were those of poor background, unemployed youths, physically challenged and other categories stipulated as requirements for the scheme.
“I have assured them that the money will be paid into their respective accounts within seven days after the capturing, that was part of the reasons why Nigerians cherished the programme.
“The essence of this survival fund is to reduce poverty and the effects of COVID-19 on the populace and our people must make judicious use of it.”
Meanwhile, Bamidele, in partnership with the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), has trained another 250 unemployed youths physically challenged and women in entrepreneurial and skill acquisition.
The beneficiaries were simultaneously trained in baking and writing of business proposals in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, and Aramoko, the headquarters of Ekiti West Local Government.
While speaking on the motive, Bamidele said he decided to make huge investment in vocational and business skills acquisition as the best confirmed ways for citizens to gain economic relevance under the rising unemployment rate.
He added that the trainees will be empowered financially so as to establish small businesses in their areas of interest.
“Since I became senator in 2019, these are the fourth set of people that would undergo vocal and entrepreneurial training.
“All these were put in place to arrest joblessness and the attendant crime in our society. We can all see how the nation has been quaking under the burden of insecurity, which I believe unemployment majorly caused.
“I am particularly happy that many of those who had been trained in fishery, confectionary, soap making and paint making by experts from various institutions of government are gradually establishing small businesses to support themselves.
“This, I believe, will help our local economy in no small measures by the time the funds revolve around within our locality,” the senator maintained.