The Hardball Foundation, has awarded a grant of N1 million (N200,000 each) to five selected Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) in Abuja, Nigeria to boost their businesses in order to reduce the pressure of unemployment.
The awards’ cheques were distributed during the event that marked the end of a two-week long training session that included representatives of a variety of small enterprises in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Through its Decent Work Initiative (DWI), the Foundation is strengthening the ability of small enterprises and assisting them in maintaining their operations by providing an after care mechanism that will evaluate the performance of the beneficiaries and deepen engagements.
Dr. John Shekwogaza, the Executive Chairman of the Bwari Area Council, addressed the audience and urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunities in order to add value to their businesses.
Represented by the Deputy Speaker of the Area Council, Abdulmumini Kawu, the chairman also urged the beneficiaries and all the participants to build businesses on digital innovation in order to move their communities forward.
The Director and Founder of Hardball, Oluwatobi Adesina, revealed that the programme was designed to ensure that everything the participants have learnt, is put into practice.
“They have been taught on how to ensure that the money given to them is spent in the right way so that their businesses can grow,” he said.
The CEO of the Foundation, Eva Dan-Yusuf, in her remark, claimed that the program was necessary to address the difficulties small businesses have in obtaining capital and the expertise they need to survive and grow their businesses.
On how to sustain the initiative, the CEO said, “we will visit these businesses every six months to ensure that they are managing the money properly. The idea is that at the end of the six months, they should be able to stand and weather the economic storm.”
Also speaking, Mr Emmanuel Obiabo, who spoke on behalf of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), stated that the agency will always provide facilities to increase the capacity of small businesses and urged them to register with the agency in order to take advantage of the rewards that will accrue.
Isa Danjuma Ali, one of the beneficiaries and a phone repairman, expressed his gratitude to the Foundation and promised to spend the grant money wisely.
The Hardball Foundation develops sustainable means of subduing economic inequality through respectable employment.
It works with the UN to advance Sustainable Development Goal 8, which calls for sustainable, inclusive, full, and productive economic growth.
