To further fulfil its aims of discovering, empowering and mentoring small businesses in Akwa Ibom State, the Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey Youth Entrepreneurship Support Scheme (RHAB-YESS) made another round of unscheduled visits to some of its beneficiaries to know the progress level of their businesses.
Represented by Managers of the Scheme on Wednesday, Darlington Udobong and Godswill Bassey, the sponsor of the scheme and Speaker of the 7th Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, said the “visit is part of the programme’s feedback template to monitor beneficiaries and their respective businesses.”
He said the overwhelming acknowledgement by young entrepreneurs in the state that RHAB-YESS has become a veritable vehicle for the development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has become a driving force for additional support to deserving beneficiaries.
While charging those visited to continually embrace hard work, dedication and commitment to their respective ventures, the Speaker hinted that RHAB-YESS has done 13 editions, supported over 45 SMEs, trained over 28 Artisans and covered 31 Local Government Areas of the state.
Some of the beneficiaries visited including Utibe Okon Effiong (N150,00 Winner), an Artist who operates from his home in Idoro Road; Blessing Jerome Mbat (N250,000 Winner), a Fashion Designer who operates from a newly acquired office space along Nkemba Street, and Esther Okon Eyakndue (N250,000 Winner), a vegetable farmer in Shelter Afrique, appealed for addition financial support for business expansion.
Blessing Aniedi Akpan (N100,000 Winner), an Interior Decorator that operates from a showroom along Ikpa Road, and Bright Malachy Michael (N100,000 Winner), a Cobbler who operates from home, appealed for additional funds to enable them purchase more working tools.
