PTV News Media: LAGOS: Joseph Evah Empowers Niger-Delta Small Business Owners, People With Disabilities

By Perekeme Odon

Photos by DNL Media

Lagos, Nigeria: Committed to serving the Niger Delta, the Ijaw Monitoring Group (IMG) proudly celebrated small-scale business entrepreneurs and people with disabilities during the impactful Microfinance Grants Day for Niger Delta indigenes in Lagos State, Nigeria.

Comrade Joseph Evah

The inspiring event held at Mercy Hall in Magodo, Ikosi, Ketu, Lagos State on Saturday, August 17, 2024, empowered over 3000 innovative individuals - men, women, and youths with soft loans to elevate their businesses and livelihoods, showcasing the power of transformation through support and initiative.

The Ijaw Monitoring Group Coordinator, Super Comrade Joseph Evah, emphasized the significance of the initiative's goal of empowering Niger-Delta indigenes in Lagos State by reducing unemployment, fostering self-sufficiency, and creating opportunities for entrepreneurship and business development to overcome the current economic challenges in the country.

A Cross section of women

The initiative, which commenced in 2002, constitutes a component of the Ijaw Monitoring Group to commemorate the aftermath of the Ijaw/OPC-Yoruba blood clash, which saw extensive loss of life, destruction of property, and the propagation of hate campaigns and stigmatization against the Ijaw and Niger-Delta indigenes in Lagos State, to devise innovative strategies, interventions, and solutions that are driving the Nigerian economy towards sustained growth.

Presenting cheques and popcorn machines to people with disabilities, small business owners and organisations to enhance their businesses, Comrade Joseph Evah, informed that Niger Delta indigenous people are business-inclined and entrepreneurial. Still, politicians and other people in positions of authority are lethargic due to their dull minds, which is why they have yet to develop smart strategies to keep the economy growing.

IYC Chairman, Lagos chapter: Pst Ebitimi Dio-Posibi

“The Niger Delta, South-South, and ordinary Nigerian youth, man and woman are not lazy. We only have lazy leaders at the top who are cowards. Stroll to any of our markets in any state in Nigeria, and you’ll see our mothers selling wares. My mother fished at all the Ajegunle waterside. So our mothers are not lazy. We are doing this because our politicians should come to our aid.”

Comrade Evah implored the people to come together and organise themselves under a central body without discrimination to enable them to qualify to attract government interventions. He warned them not to default on the loan repayment but to invest it wisely in their businesses.

A section of the Women's Group

‘If you are not qualified for something, you cannot apply. One of the ways to qualify for a cooperative is organisation. The Bank of Industry made that known to us. We want to stop defaulters from accessing the loans.” He stated.

He firmly emphasized his confidence in the positive impact of the new microfinance loans in empowering and sustaining their businesses, stressing the necessity of prompt repayment, against the stark contrast to previous occurrences when certain individuals absconded with loan funds, failing to fulfill their repayment obligations or acknowledge their appreciation thereafter.

Comrade Evah also commended President Bola Tinubu for the appointment of Mrs. Esther Didi Walson-Jack OON as the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

Guest Speaker, Mrs. Tina Wilfred Igumbor

The guest speaker, Mrs. Tina Wilfred Igumbor highlighted that microfinance grants are credit facilities provided to individuals, groups, or small organizations to enhance their businesses and contribute to the national economy's growth. She emphasized the importance of understanding the business for which the loan is sought and ensuring its effective utilization for the business to thrive, making IMG proud and motivated to do more.

Pst Ebitimi Dio-Posibi, the INC Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter, also showered Comrade Evah with admiration, for being a courageous and committed man who acted in the best interests of his people. He implored the government to reproduce the gestures in a larger context, saying that it just takes one individual to alter the narrative as we witnessed. He counseled the beneficiaries to seize the chance for their benefit and to use it wisely to better and enrich their financial life rather than for frivolities.

Cheque Presentation To The Dwarf Association EXCO

Comrade Joseph Evah assured everyone that the Ijaw Monitoring Group will continue to support growth across various sectors of the economy, including investments in farming, fishing, poultry, agro-allied businesses, entrepreneurship, ICT investments, skill acquisition, wealth creation awareness, food processing, and creative industries.

The IMG drive for developmental impact is far-reaching, cutting across vital industrial sectors, geopolitical zones, and multilateral stakeholders. In doing so, we are focused on nurturing and expanding the emerging sectors of our economy while supporting established segments for increased global impact.