KWARA GIVES 12 YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS ₦89.2M BUSINESS GRANTS

The Kwara State Government has disbursed ₦89.2 million in grants to 12 young entrepreneurs to support business growth, improve production and create jobs.

The grants were presented through the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP) under its Youth Entrepreneurial Empowerment Scheme.

Speaking during the presentation in Ilorin, KWASSIP General Manager, Dr Abdulwasiu Olayinka Tejidini, said the beneficiaries were selected after Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq reviewed their requests and business proposals.

Tejidini urged the recipients to use the funds for the purposes outlined in their applications, stressing the need for responsible spending and effective business management.

He said the agency’s monitoring and evaluation unit would assess the impact of the grants after six months or one year to determine how effectively the funds had supported the businesses.

According to him, the intervention forms part of the state government’s efforts to encourage entrepreneurship, reduce dependence on government employment and create opportunities for young people to become economically self-reliant.

Tejidini also disclosed that the state had supported more than 1,000 young people through its Kwapreneur programme, another initiative aimed at promoting entrepreneurship.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Ajiboye Rasheed and Mohammed Nimotallah Kpayero thanked the state government for the financial support, saying it would help them acquire equipment, increase production and employ more people.

Rasheed said the grants would also create opportunities for young people, including fresh graduates, to learn business skills and become self-sufficient.

The latest disbursement adds to Kwara’s ongoing entrepreneurship support programmes, which the government says are intended to strengthen small businesses and expand employment opportunities across the state.

In November 2025, the state government also distributed ₦5.4 million in grants to 15 student entrepreneurs from tertiary institutions across Kwara following a business-pitch competition held to mark International Students’ Day.