Empowers 2,000 MSMEs With Financial Grants
By Sunday Egede
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. (Elder)Sheriff Oborevwori has appreciated Deltans for the cooperation, peace and unity in the state, assuring that year 2025 would witness more blessings, development and prosperity for the people.
Governor Oborevwori, who gave the assurance at the 2024 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols organised yesterday, by Government House Chapel, Asaba, said the carols’ session is an opportunity to pray for the unity and progress of the state and country.
The Governor also lauded the synergy and cooperation among the three arms of government in the state, adding that Deltans would witness enhanced development in Year 2025.
“This programme has become a tradition where our brothers and sisters, the churches, come together to celebrate this season.
“We know that the programme is an opportunity for us to unite more and pray for the success and unity of this state and also our country, Nigeria.
“So, this season is a season of celebration. We will celebrate to enter the New Year successfully, in Jesus’ name.
“The good thing is that there is synergy between the three Arms of Government in Delta State working for the overall good of our people,” the Governor said.
Continuing, Oborevwori said: “I want to use this opportunity to thank Deltans for their cooperation, peace and support. I want to assure you all that, come this 2025, we shall witness more blessings, development, unity and prosperity in Delta State. “The take home today is that it is good for us to be united as a state. What is happening in other states does not happen here. So, for the sake of our state, let us continue to work together to build this state.”
In his message, the Chaplain, Government House Chapel, Ven. Charles Osemenam, noted that the birth of Jesus Christ transformed the world as it brought joy to humanity.
He pointed out that sin and disobedience were the things that destroy a man, adding that Christians should cleave to God for the salvation of their souls.
… Empowers 2,000 MSMEs With Financial Grants Via MORE Biz-Up
By Sunday Egede
Meanwhile, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, yesterday, presented financial grants to 2,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state to grow their businesses and cushion the effects of the harsh economic realities in the country. Speaking during the disbursement ceremony of the MORE Business Upscale Programme (MORE BIZ-UP) held at the Events Centre in Asaba, Governor Oborevwori said the gesture was designed to empower the entrepreneurs against rising economic hardship in the country.
“It is with great joy that I welcome you all to the disbursement of grants to the beneficiaries of the MORE Business Upscale Programme of the Delta State Job and Wealth Creation Bureau. “The MORE Business Upscale Programme, otherwise known as MORE Biz-Up, is one of the job creation programmes initiated in line with the MORE Agenda of my administration. “As the name implies, MORE Biz-Up is aimed at providing stimulus in the form of financial grants to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the State in order to grow their businesses and to cushion the effects of the harsh economic realities in our nation. “Like other job creation programmes of the state government, such as the D-CARES, MORE Grant, MORE WESAP among others, the programme is strategically planned and designed as a testament of my administration’s commitment to empower small businesses, fast-track economic growth and to foster development in the state,” he said. The Governor charged the beneficiaries, to take the knowledge garnered from the MORE Business School component of the programme to advance their businesses and leverage on networking amongst participants.
“Your success as entrepreneurs is crucial to the economic development of our state and which will further inspire other young entrepreneurs to follow in your footsteps.
“Therefore, I urge you to work hard to sustain your businesses. We shall continue to support your entrepreneurship journey. Ladies and Gentlemen, I congratulate you all on your success during the selection process. “Out of a pool of over 10,000 applicants, you are blessed to be among the chosen. The 2,000 beneficiaries of the programme gathered here today are in two groups – 1,000 business owners drawn from a database of fresh applicants who have never benefited from state government’s job creation and entrepreneurship programmes and 1,000 past beneficiaries who were verified by the Directorate of Youth Monitoring and Mentoring (DYMM). “I expect you to make judicious use of the grant by applying it wisely and responsibly to your business. It is my earnest prayer that your businesses grow from strength to strength.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chief Job and Wealth Creation Officer, Ifeanyi Egwunyenga said the strategy of the MORE Business Upscale Programme focuses on stimulating economic growth by equipping entrepreneurs with advanced business knowledge, and injecting financial stimulus in the form of grants into small businesses.
Egwunyenga disclosed that 2,000 participants were benefitting from the MORE Bizup programme, stressing that they were made up of 1,000 fresh applicants and 1,000 past beneficiaries of the state’s Job Creation Programme whose businesses have been verified and validated by the Directorate of Youth Monitoring and Mentoring. “Today, we celebrate another remarkable milestone in the implementation of the Job and Wealth Creation Programme led by His Excellency, the Right Honourable Sheriff Oborevwori, Governor of Delta State.
“I stand before you not only as the Chief Job and Wealth Creation Officer but as a proud advocate for the entrepreneurial spirit that thrives in Delta State. We are here to celebrate the backbone of our economy: Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
“This new phase of grants under the MORE programme is clear evidence of our government’s unwavering commitment to nurturing entrepreneurs. In turn, this drives economic growth and advances the ‘Advancing Delta’ mantra of the MORE Agenda,” he said.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Chairman of Artisans Association in the state, Ifeanyi Abanum and the state ALGON Chairman, Hon. Isaiah Esiovwa, who doubles as the Chairman of Okpe Local Government, thanked Governor Oborevwori for the various empowerment programmes of his administration which, they said, had brought succour to Deltans. The duo of Abanum and Hon. Esiovwa, therefore, urged beneficiaries of the MORE Bizup programme and other empowerment programmes of the state government to make judicious use of the facilities giving to them to strengthen their entrepreneurial drive so that they could contribute meaningfully to the development of the state.
Responding on behalf of beneficiaries, Mr. Meshack Okeoghene thanked Governor Oborevwori for empowering them, adding that the state government’s gesture would serve as a catalyst that would stimulate the growth of their respective businesses.
