Petty traders, youth get support to boost businesses

The Voices for Community Development Foundation (VCDF) recently provided financial assistance to 50 petty traders and 20 vulnerable youths in the Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The founder and CEO of the foundation, Comrade Abdulkadir Lukman, unveiled the initiative during an empowerment program held in Abaji.

The beneficiaries were selected from rural communities across the area council's ten wards, with the primary objective being to bolster their livelihoods, expand small-scale businesses, and foster economic self-reliance.

Lukman revealed that each of the 50 petty traders received N30,000 to augment their existing businesses and entrepreneurial activities. This financial support aimed to provide additional working capital, enhance household income, and enable the beneficiaries to contribute positively to the local economy. The VCDF founder explained that the program marked the third phase of their ongoing empowerment initiative since the foundation's establishment.

He emphasized that the program's inception was prompted by the country's prevailing economic challenges, which necessitated humanitarian interventions such as these.

In addition, 20 vulnerable youths were also given financial assistance under this program. Each recipient received N20,000 as immediate financial aid to alleviate the impact of the economic hardships faced by the nation. Lukman urged the beneficiaries to utilize the funds responsibly, according to the intended purposes, and assured them that the foundation would continue to support vulnerable members of society, particularly widows, orphans, and the less privileged.

He reiterated the foundation's commitment to empowering those in need, promoting local entrepreneurship, advocating for social inclusion, and contributing to sustainable community development in Abaji and beyond.