Market women in Edo State have hailed the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government and the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, for ensuring that traders in the state benefit from TraderMoni, a component of the National Social Investment Programme.

President, Edo Market Women Association, Mrs. Blacky Omoregie (4th left) with other traders, during Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo’s launch of TraderMoni at Ekiosa Market, in Benin City, Edo State, at the weekend.

A cross-section of the women who spoke to journalists, said the loan will enable them to expand their businesses, adding that the disbursement was a departure from the past, where governments would promise and fail Nigerians.

President, Edo Market Women Association, Mrs. Blacky Omoregie commended the Vice President for visiting the state and ensuring the scheme was implemented in the state.

READ ALSO: Akeredolu doles out N550m to market women, artisans in Ondo

She noted, “Traders have started receiving credit alerts from TraderMoni. The N10,000 will go a long way in helping members of our association increase their business capital.

When we heard about the scheme, we thought it won’t be implemented because we have had cases of governments promising to give traders loans and they eventually failed to do so.”

Omoregie said, “So we are very happy to see that the vice president came to visit us at the market and gave us money to trade with.”

R-L: Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, APC Gubernatorial candidate in Akwa Ibom State, Nsima Ekere, and Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, at the Benin Airport, during the departure of the vice president at the weekend, after the launch of TraderMoni in the state.

Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who visited traders at Oba Market and Ekiosa market in Benin City, urged them to make good use of the TraderMoni loan given to them so they could benefit from the next stages of the scheme.

The vice president was accompanied by the Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, and were welcomed by the jubilant market women and men.

Interacting with one of the traders, the Vice President tasked the traders to ensure they make best use of the loan, which they are expected to pay back, to qualify for the next stage of the TraderMoni scheme.

“When you pay back this N10,000, you get N15,000; when you pay back the N15,000, you get N20,000. You can get up to N100,000,” Osinbajo noted.

Mrs Joyce Iyamu, a trader in Ekiosa Market, who sells crayfish, confirmed receiving credit alert from TraderMoni, which she said she would use to expand her business.

“I got my TraderMoni alert of N10, 000. I am happy because I will use the money to buy more food items to sell at the market,” she said excitedly.