GEN. BOROH (RTD), FLAGS OFF DISTRIBUTION OF STARTER PACKS

The Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd) has called on state governments in the Niger Delta and relevant public institutions to encourage the growth of small and medium enterprises as a way to boost the local and national economy.

Brig. General Boroh made the call at a ceremony in Warri, Delta State to officially flag-off the distribution of starter packs to delegates trained as entrepreneurs under the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

He emphasized the role of small businesses in the service sector of the economy while noting that a thriving small and medium enterprises sector would help fast-track the growth of Nigeria’s Industrial sector. 

Brig. General Paul Boroh said this was why the Presidential Amnesty Office is deploying empowerment as part of an integrated platform to consolidate the planned exit strategy for delegates under the programme.

The Strategy will in effect oversee the exit of all trained delegates from the programme over a planned two-year period.

The first set of three thousand two hundred and thirty two beneficiaries who have been trained as entrepreneurs and have received business set up and starter packs are to lead in the exit plan. Also affected are all beneficiaries of the oil and gas international foundation programme.

The Amnesty office has revealed that exiting the first set of 3, 232 delegates from the programme will help save the government a total sum of two billion, five hundred and twenty million, nine hundred and sixty thousand naria.

The Co-ordinator disclosed that the current disbursement of starter packs to a second batch of one thousand and forty two beneficiaries is in furtherance of efforts to ensure that delegates trained as entrepreneurs are able to successfully set up their businesses before they exit the programme.

He described the Amnesty programme as a huge success which has helped in sustaining the peace and stability currently in the Niger Delta.

Brig. Gen. Boroh also advised beneficiaries who received starter packs to be prudent and apply wisdom in running their businesses, as society expects their contributions to national development.

The Chairman at the Flag-off Ceremony, Mr Joel Bisina applauded the federal government for its commitment at maintaining peace and development in the Niger Delta.

He identified the Amnesty Programme-sponsored skills acquisition and vocational trainings as vital tool which has largely helped to arrest youth unemployment and curb restiveness in the region.

The official flag-off ceremony in Delta State was preceded by the disbursement of starter packs to trained delegates of the Presidential Amnesty Programme in some states of the Niger Delta.

The starter pack is handed over to a specific delegate based on the delegate’s area of training as an entrepreneur. Items on the pack are mostly tools relevant and useful for the entrepreneur’s stock in trade.