By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Anambra State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Mark Okoye, has announced that no fewer than 50,000 persons from the state are to benefit from COVID-19 action and recovery economic stimulus programme when it kicks off in July.

The project, which would be going on simultaneously in the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), would aim at empowering the poor and the less privileged people across the nation.

The Commissioner announced this in Awka the state capital while receiving the Federal Government Care Technical Committee on COVID-19 Action Recovery Economic Stimulus Team in his office in Awka.

He said the project would be sponsored by the World Bank in collaboration with the Federal Government, would aim at cushioning the effects of COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

According to him, the project will be in the form of cash transfers, addressing food insecurity and providing funding opportunities for Small and Medium Businesses to thrive.

Okoye said: “The two year intervention project would provide an opportunity for people to assess grants and loans from Anambra State Small Business Agency (ASBA) to boost their businesses.”

The leader of the team from Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Abuja, Dr Martina Nwodu, expressed satisfaction at the level of the state’s preparedness toward the commencement of the programme.

She listed some of the requirements needed for take-off of the programme to include adequate office spaces, staff members with requisite capacity to function in various areas and equipment.

Nwodu said the target was to push funds into the system to reactivate the agricultural sector as well as empower Small and Medium Entrepreneurs across the country.

The team which came to assess the preparedness of the state before the take-off of the programme used the opportunity to tour all the facility cites provided by the Anambra State Government for take-off of the project.

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