Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has flagged off the distribution of N1.1 billion to business groups under the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms program.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony on Thursday in Gusau at the JB Yakubu secretariat, Dr Garba Nadama Hall, Lawal restated his commitment to changing the narrative of business development in the state.
The governor explained that the cash grant was targeted at small, medium, and large-scale businesses under the SABER program. He noted that the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms is a World Bank program in Nigeria designed to improve the business enabling environment by strengthening state-level policies and implementation.
According to him, the initiative aims to attract private investment and foster economic growth across Zamfara.
Governor Lawal said, “Today, we are distributing the sum of N1.1 billion to business groups that comprise of 2,000 people who will receive N150,000 each, 1,000 people to receive N500,000 each. Similarly, we are distributing N5 million to each of 60 other large-scale businessmen in the state. I’m happy that I fulfilled one of my promises to improve on business, returning business across the state.”
He added that very soon the state would witness an inflow of businessmen from outside Zamfara, which will further support economic growth and open more opportunities for investors.
Earlier, the Zamfara State Commissioner of Commerce, Industries and Tourism, Hon. Abdul Rahman Tumbido, said the intervention would help expand business capacity, create more markets, and stabilise the local economy.
He appreciated the World Bank for its technical support towards the implementation of the SABER program in Zamfara State.
Also present at the ceremony, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of SMSE, Dr. Charles Oni, commended Governor Lawal’s foresight and commitment to supporting business development. He advised the beneficiaries to make proper use of the funds, stressing that the grants should be used to build self-reliance and create jobs within their communities.