In a bid to boost entrepreneurship and economic resilience in indigenous communities of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Rotary Club of Abuja Federal has announced a substantial empowerment initiative. One hundred local men and women will each receive grants of N250,000 to grow their small-scale businesses. This effort aims to foster sustainability and self-reliance amid Nigeria’s challenging economic climate.
Rotary Club President Oluwafunmi Elufioye, speaking after the club’s “End Polio Now” road walk, highlighted the initiative’s dual benefits: providing immediate financial support and promoting long-term entrepreneurship within the communities. “This program is about helping small-scale businesses overcome today’s economic challenges,” Elufioye said, explaining that the upcoming grants management and business support program will include one-on-one coaching for recipients, tailored to guide them over the next year.
Elufioye emphasized that the Rotary Club has long supported the FCT’s Kpaduma and Peyi communities, providing vital services such as healthcare, hygiene awareness, and vaccinations over the past decade. This latest initiative expands on their commitment, introducing a unique “community core” model where recipients, equally split between men and women, will receive interest-free, revolving loans. Every three months, these funds will cycle to the next round of recipients, sustaining and growing local businesses through trust-based community support.
“This rotating fund not only sustains their businesses but also empowers community members to lift each other up,” Elufioye explained, adding that the grant system fosters accountability and cooperation, with each participant knowing who receives funds next in the cycle.
The club’s empowerment projects, scheduled in alignment with the Rotary year from July to June, also include a focused “Cohort 2” program targeting a select group of young people under 35. These ten recipients will receive intensive coaching and skills training, preparing them to lead their own ventures in the future.
At the “End Polio Now” road walk, Elufioye reiterated Rotary’s commitment to eradicating polio and promoting humanitarian efforts. While Nigeria was declared free of wild poliovirus in 2020, Elufioye noted that vigilance remains essential, as circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 still poses risks. The club’s Polio Chair, Valentine Muorah, stressed the importance of ongoing awareness and vaccination efforts.
Through this comprehensive support model, the Rotary Club of Abuja Federal continues to empower FCT communities, paving the way for sustainable business growth, improved healthcare, and robust community bonds.
