The former Governor of Abia State and Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, has facilitated the commencement of the Federal Government’s Conditional Grant Scheme for nano businesses in Abia North, with beneficiaries receiving N50,000 each to support and expand their businesses.
The programme commenced on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at Camp Neya, Igbere, in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, with the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, Mr Charles Odii, in attendance alongside senior officials and members of the agency’s team.
The intervention, implemented through SMEDAN, is targeted at entrepreneurial constituents across the five Local Government Areas of Abia North and is designed to strengthen nano businesses, support livelihoods and stimulate economic activity at the grassroots.
The programme is also in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly the Federal Government’s focus on supporting micro and small businesses, expanding economic opportunities and improving livelihoods.
Speaking during the commencement of the programme, Kalu described the intervention as another step in his human empowerment agenda for the people of Abia North.
“Entrepreneurial constituents across the five Local Government Areas of Abia North will benefit from the grant to support and expand their businesses,” Kalu said.
The former 9th Senate Chief Whip stressed that his representation was not limited to infrastructure, noting that education, skills development and economic empowerment remained key components of his constituency agenda.
According to Kalu, he has supported the education and capacity development of constituents, including the sponsorship of more than 50 students for further studies and training, with some beneficiaries sent abroad for academic advancement.
He said empowering constituents economically was essential to enabling families and communities to become more self-reliant.
“My commitment remains clear: to empower our people, open opportunities and support initiatives that improve livelihoods across Abia North,” he said.
Kalu urged the beneficiaries to regard the grant as seed capital that could be carefully deployed to expand their businesses and create additional economic opportunities.
“Think big, start small and prosper,” he added.
Some beneficiaries at the programme expressed appreciation for the intervention, describing the N50,000 grant as useful working capital for their various enterprises.
Jacintha Onwuka, a foodstuff trader, said the financial support would enable her to increase the volume of goods she purchases for resale and strengthen her business.
For Igwe Chidinma, who is engaged in poultry farming, the grant would provide support for the purchase of poultry inputs and help improve the operation of the farm.
Mike Anyanwu, a transport operator, said the intervention would assist him in meeting some of the immediate financial demands associated with sustaining his transport business.
Similarly, Nneka Kalu, a farmer, welcomed the grant, saying the funds would support her farming activities and enable her to procure essential inputs.
The beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the Federal Government, SMEDAN and Senator Kalu for the intervention, while pledging to deploy the funds productively to strengthen their respective businesses and livelihoods.
The commencement of the Conditional Grant Scheme in Abia North adds another dimension to Kalu’s constituency interventions, with the senator reiterating that his priority remains creating opportunities through economic empowerment, education, capacity development and grassroots enterprise support.
The programme also showed the growing emphasis on nano, micro and small businesses as instruments for expanding economic participation and improving livelihoods at the grassroots, which shows Kalu is in tune with the time and a great asset to the good people of Abia North.