FG disbursed N19.9bn to petty traders – BoI

Fri, Dec 6, 2019
By publisher
2 MIN READ

Business Briefs

THE Bank of Industry, BoI, has said that the federal government disbursed a total of N19.9 billion to petty traders under the Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme, GEEP. Toyin Adeniji, executive director, BoI, said the funds disbursed to the petty traders were meant to boost their businesses and touch their lives in a positive manner.

Speaking during the visit of Chanita Foster, United Nations Ambassador, and 50 students from Government Girls Secondary, Dutse visited the GEEP centre in Abuja, Adeniji challenged the students to think of innovative ways of empowering themselves rather than seek paid employment after their education.

GEEP is one of the four components of the National Social Investment Programme of the Federal Government that grants interest-free loans of between N10,000 to N300,000. One of the primary objectives of GEEP is to increase financial inclusion and support for the people at the base of the economic pyramid.

Uzoma Nwagba, chief operating officer of GEEP, told the students that so far, a total 1.99 million petty traders across the country had received loans under the GEEP programme. Out of this figure, he said, 54.04 percent of the beneficiaries were female traders.

Nwagba said both the process of application and loan repayment under the programme had been automated and simplified.

In his remarks at the event, Chanita Foster, United Nations Ambassador, expressed support for the programme and encouraged the students to develop entrepreneurial spirit.

– Dec. 6, 2019 @ 17:05 GMT |

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