The Kwara State Government has distributed N89.2m in grants to 12 young entrepreneurs as part of efforts to support their businesses and create employment opportunities. The funding was provided through the Kwara State Social Investment Programme under its Youth Entrepreneurial Empowerment Scheme. The General Manager of KWASSIP, Wasiu Tejidini, presented the cheques to the beneficiaries at the agency's office in Ilorin on Monday, according to a statement from the programme's Press Secretary, Bolashade Yusuf.
The 12 beneficiaries and their respective grant amounts were named by Tejidini. They include Firdauz Muhammed Wuraola of Drinks 'N' Grillz (N10m), Nimotallah Mohammed Kpayero of Ban Shea Products (N15.9m), Ahmed Kuburat of Kaddy Nigeria (N15m), Oloyede Ikmat Omoshalewa of Kwara Souvenir Store (N5m) and Fatigun Subomi Emmanuel of Waka Studios (N10m). The remaining seven recipients each received N5m or N3.3m for their respective ventures, which span fashion, jewellery, cleaning, and retail operations.
Tejidini explained that the beneficiaries were selected after Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq reviewed their letters of request and business proposals. He urged them to use the funds responsibly according to their applications and said that the KWASSIP monitoring and evaluation unit would assess the grants' impact after six months or one year. Tejidini noted that the state had already supported more than 1,000 young people through its Kwapreneur programme, another KWASSIP initiative focused on youth empowerment and enterprise development.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Ajiboye Opeyemi Rasheed and Kpayero thanked the state government for the support. Ajiboye said the grants would help them create jobs for people, including fresh graduates who could learn business skills and become self-sufficient. Kpayero added that the funds would enable them to acquire additional equipment, improve production capacity and employ more young people, making them economically independent.
The state government has pursued youth empowerment through the Kwara State Social Investment Programme, which implements initiatives aimed at supporting small businesses, encouraging self-employment and expanding economic opportunities for young people. Tejidini described the latest intervention as part of the government's broader strategy to promote entrepreneurship and reduce dependence on government employment.