*OGUN ROUNDS OFF STAKEHOLDERS’ ENGAGEMENT ON OGUN CARES N1BN OPERATIONAL GRANT FOR MSEs*

 *OGUN ROUNDS OFF STAKEHOLDERS’ ENGAGEMENT ON OGUN CARES N1BN OPERATIONAL GRANT FOR MSEs*

... commences processing of applications

Ogun State has concluded its Stakeholders Engagement on the N1BN COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (OG-CARES) Operational Grant with the final held at Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government in the Ogun West Senatorial District of the State on Thursday, 2nd of June, 2022.

The program which is in collaboration with Federal Government and World Bank is another giant stride of the Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR led Administration, aimed at ameliorating the effect of COVID-19 on the businesses of the citizens of the State especially the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.

The Chairman, State Steering Committee on OGUN-CARES and Commissioner for Finance/Chief Economic Adviser, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo represented by the Program manager & Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Industry, Trade and Investment, Ms. Sola Arobieke stated that the Stakeholders Engagement session has taken place in the 3 senatorial District of the state - East, Central & West with over 2,000 key MSE stakeholders in attendance.   

Mr. Okubadejo revealed that although there will be continuous engagement of stakeholders, processing of applications received across the State will commence. He reiterated that feedback received from the sessions will also be looked into and where necessary incorporated into the implementation of the program. 

Mr. Okubadejo warned applicants to be wary of fraudsters who may be using the program to extort entrepreneurs, saying the State government do not charge any fee for application for this grant and neither has it engaged any third party agents to process applications on its behalf.

The Commissioner urged prospective applicants to disregard fraudulent messages making rounds about the program and appealed to me members of the public to seek clarification where necessary from the Program Office at Block B, State Secretariat, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta or call any of the numbers or send an email to the team whose contact details are stated on the information flyer which is already in circulation.

In their separate good will messages, the President OTA-Agbara Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OTA-Agbara CCIMA), Mrs. Cynthia Saka and President of Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), Dr. Femi Egbesola commended the Federal Government, World Bank and the State Government for initiating this support for the Micro and Small Enterprises, stressing that if utilized wisely it could turn their businesses around for good.

The Iyaloja General of Ogun State, Chief (Mrs.) Oluwayemisi Abass said the program is a great indicator that the present Administration led by His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun is visionary, stating that for any government in power to prioritise the growth of SMEs, such government should be applauded and be given a pass mark.

Ismail Oladipo

Media/PR Lead, OG CARES