By Matthew Johnson

No fewer than 30 traders at the Bonny Camp Mammy Market in Lagos have received financial support from the Rotary Club of Falomo, as part of efforts to strengthen small businesses and boost local commerce.

Each beneficiary received N30,000.

The intervention is separate from about N2.5 million interest-free loans previously extended to members of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) in Ikoyi from the same pool of funds.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, President of Rotary Club of Falomo, Rahim Sule, said the initiative was part of the club’s ongoing support programme for small-scale entrepreneurs.

He said: “This project started about four presidents ago, and we had always done it with the Police Officers’ Wives Association in Falomo in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Microfinance Bank.

“We had always given out interest-free loans repayable within a period. This time we extended it to traders in the Bonny Camp Mammy Market.”

He explained that the current intervention targets 30 beneficiaries, noting that the programme would continue to expand.

“This time we have 30 beneficiaries and each received N30,000. By next year, the fund would have reached about N3 million that we have given out as interest-free support.”

Sule said the programme was designed to support grassroots entrepreneurs, particularly market women, whom he described as critical drivers of the local economy.

“Anybody who knows Lagos knows that without market women, Lagos cannot move. From early morning till late evening, rain or shine, they keep businesses running and ensure families get what they need,” he said.

The Iyaloja of Mammy Market, Bonny Camp, Mrs. Sade Ahmed, described the intervention as timely.

“This gesture from the Rotary Club of Falomo came to us unexpectedly and it will go a long way to boost our businesses. We are grateful and promise to use the grant judiciously,” she said.

Also speaking, Chairman of Mammy Market, Mr. Demean Adinum, commended the club for the initiative but urged that male traders should also benefit in future interventions.

“We are expressing our gratitude to the Rotary Club of Falomo for this kind gesture. However, we would urge the club to extend this support to the men in the market in future programmes,” he said.

“The market is made up of men and women, so it is important that everyone gets a feel of such support.”