Business

SMEDAN supports 60 BMOs, NGOs with N500,000 grants in Kaduna

Published

4 years ago

October 12, 2021

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN) on Tuesday in Kaduna supported 60 Business Membership Organisations (BMOs) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) with N500,000 grants each.

The Director-General (DG) of SMEDAN, Dr. Dikko Radda, said the grant was to support the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through BMOs, NGOs and trade associations by strengthening their capacities.

The DG, represented by SMEDAN North West Zonal Coordinator, Alhaji Ahmed Madaki, explained that strengthening the capacities of MSMEs in different sectors of the economy through the BMOs and NGOs would reduce business mortality, improve living standards and reduce poverty.

The DG noted that in recent past, over 60 BMOs, NGOs and trade associations with about 600 members had benefited from the programme, which had the objective to enhance their governance structure and general financial management.

“It is also aimed at financial independence of the BMOs and NGOs, with strong resource base for sustainability and effective succession plan.

“The agency is injecting innovative ideas to transform the MSMEs through tailored made programmes designed to combat the alarming rate of unemployment among Nigerians and deal with the negative effects of COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

Earlier, the Manager, Kaduna Office of SMEDAN, Alhaji Badamasi Barau, said growth and grant strategy being one of the policies of the agency served as multiplier means to people and organizations with larger numbers of membership.

“Calling on them to come and we develop their capacities and also give them grants for their businesses is one of our commitments.

“The grants for NGOs who are non-profit making organizations, will enable them make peoples businesses better”, he said.

One of the BMOs and a beneficiary of the grant, Aminu Lere, who represented the Kaduna Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, said the grants would be shared judiciously among the selected MSMEs under their chamber.

“We will share the money to the MSMEs who we know need the grants more, even though some of them are not here at the capacity building, we will go back to the chamber and do the needful.

“As a chamber, we follow up and see progress made by the MSMEs under us, we have a membership of over 1000 businesses, the grant is a step forward in addressing some of the challenges faced by MSMEs, “Lere said

Also, Hajiya Kaltume Kabir, representative of an NGO, Annihilation Poverty for Women and Children Foundation, said the grant would go a long way in assisting their programmes.

“Initially, we funded our programmes with our personal incomes, this grant will enable us enhance the business prospects of the category of business owners we will reach out to,” she said.

It will be recalled that, reports that first phase of the programme took place in Lagos State on Sept. 28 and 30

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Business

Court Orders Arrest Of Wike-led FCTA Director, 10 Others

Published

2 weeks ago

May 28, 2025

The Gleamer

By Aliyu Galadima

An Abuja High Court has issued a bench warrant against the director of investigation and prosecution of the FCTA, Joseph Eriki, and 10 others.Justice Suleiman Belgore has issued an order to compel the director and others to appear before the court for a suit filed against them.

The Judge’s decision followed the application of the prosecuting counsel, David Kaswe, who lamented the failure of the efforts to ensure that the suspects appear in court.

Justice Suleiman Belgore of the High Court in Abuja has issued a warrant of arrest against Joseph Eriki, the director of investigation and prosecution of the Nyesom Wike-led Federal Capital Territory Administration ,FCTA, and 10 others.

The judge had issued the order to compel the appearance of Joseph Eriki and 10 others before the court, as they had been arraigned in a suit filed against them by the federal government.

The warrant was issued following an application by the prosecution counsel, David Kaswe, who stated that all efforts to ensure the suspects’ presence in court had failed. Kaswe informed the court that the prosecution had made several attempts to notify the suspects’ lawyers and sureties, but to no avail.

He cited Section 124 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act ,ACJA, which allows for the issuance of a bench warrant to compel attendance in court.

The court agreed to the application, issuing the warrant to ensure the suspects’ appearance for arraignment on a six-count charge. The charges against the suspects include criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, forgery, and using a forged document as genuine.

They are also accused of using criminal force to deter a public servant from performing their duty. The suspects allegedly entered a plot of land belonging to Etha Ventures and constructed structures without authorisation, to defraud the company.

According to the prosecution, the suspects fraudulently obtained a consent judgment for the land, which was given to Super Structures Limited. The case has been adjourned until June 4 for arraignment.

The court’s decision to issue a bench warrant highlights the seriousness of the allegations and the need for the suspects to face trial. The suspects are facing a six-count charge, which was filed in February.

The court’s ruling emphasises the importance of a speedy trial and the need for the suspects to be held accountable for their actions.

With the bench warrant in place, the court is taking steps to ensure that the suspects appear in court and face the charges against them

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