100 Artisans Benefit from Goldberg Empowerment Scheme
About 100 artisans have benefitted from Goldberg’s empowerment programme. The beneficiaries, who came from the five South-west states of Nigeria received N300,000 grant each to support their businesses through Isedowo, an empowerment scheme launched last year by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
The empowerment scheme which was activated in Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Oyo and Ogun States received commendations from prominent monarchs and citizens, who eulogised the brand for supporting businesses and thus reducing unem- ployment and level of poverty in the region.
Commenting on Isedowo, Nigerian Breweries Plc Portfolio Manager, Mainstream Lager and Stout Brands, Emmanuel Agu, expressed satisfaction with the thousands of artisans that showed interest in the scheme during its maiden edition adding that such act was a demonstration of willingness and drive of youths to start their own businesses.
“With this first edition of Isedowo, artisans and entrepreneurs have experienced the elimination of poverty and unemployment by offering business grants that would help to grow local businesses,” he said.
Agu further revealed that the second edition of the empowerment scheme would start in few months and he charged entrepreneurs and artisans in the region to be alert and ready for the opportunity as more local businesses would spring up in the economy with the N300,000 business grant to each beneficiary.
At the last activation in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Gbenga Ogundairo, a cobbler and one of the beneficiaries, commended Goldberg and Nigerian Breweries Plc for making Nigeria a better place to invest in, particularly by helping to promote small-scale businesses. He noted that through its Goldenberg brand, Nigerian Breweries Plc has contributed to growing small businesses in Nigeria while calling on other corporate bodies to emulate such gestures.
Two other beneficiaries, Sesan Ayanlowo and Adegboyega Joseph, also commended the brewing giants for the Isedowo initiative saying that the scheme would encourage not just the “ready-made” business owners, but also prospective businesses through the credible platform of empowerment that Isedowo offers.
Azeez Lawal, an auto mechanic, said that Isedowo would make the vision of Nigeria to be reckoned with as an industrial superpower possible as it has supported more businesses in the economy these past few months.