Otti unveils N306m tech-enabling business grant

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has unveiled NKATA, a N306 million tech-enabling business grant designed to bolster businesses throughout the state's 17 local government areas. The initiative underscores the administration's commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and fostering sustainable economic growth, particularly for the youth.

Governor Otti emphasized that the grant program is structured for broad inclusivity, ensuring access to economic opportunities for diverse beneficiaries. A total of N306 million has been allocated, with recipients required to meet specific conditions. Otti expressed his expectation that the intervention will yield tangible results in job creation, poverty reduction, and overall empowerment.

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I want to congratulate everyone. The ₦306 million is available, but beneficiaries must meet all the necessary conditions. In a few months’ time, I want to hear that this intervention has yielded results, not just in monetary terms, but in job creation, poverty reduction, and empowerment of our people.

The NKATA grant aligns with the administration's vision of cultivating a productive, self-reliant, and innovation-driven economy. Governor Otti highlighted the strategic decision to invest in ventures with long-term economic potential rather than solely supporting consumption. "The easiest way to spend money is to give it to people who consume it, but we will receive value when it is invested, and that investment will yield returns," he stated.

This grant is part of a larger economic empowerment strategy aimed at equipping Abians with essential skills and support to achieve self-reliance and become employers. The governor urged beneficiaries to utilize the opportunity responsibly, focusing on business expansion, job creation, and contributing to Abia State's economic development. Peter Ukonu, Director-General of the Abia State Technological Skills Acquisition Centre (ATSAC), described the program as a strategic intervention to support businesses and reduce poverty.

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The easiest way to spend money is to give it to people who consume it, but we will receive value when it is invested, and that investment will yield returns. This is our own way of intervening.