A World Bank-backed initiative in Benue State is making waves among small business owners, farmers, and vulnerable communities. Through the Alia Cares Scheme, over 4,000 entrepreneurs have already received ₦150,000 in grants to grow their businesses, according to the state’s Commissioner for Finance, Michael Oglegba.
Speaking in Makurdi, Oglegba told the News Agency of Nigeria that larger enterprises weren’t left out. “We also gave out grants of ₦500,000 to big businesses like salons to inject and build bigger businesses,” he said. The initiative, jointly funded by the state and the World Bank, aims to strengthen Benue’s economy from the grassroots.
Farmers are also major beneficiaries. The scheme includes support through the Fadama programme, which provides essential resources like fertilisers, piglets, and day-old chicks. Cassava farmers receive both stems and processing machines to increase productivity. “These projects are funded through contributions from the state government and support from the World Bank, and the scheme has been successful,” Oglegba noted.
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Beyond enterprise, the scheme focuses on social welfare. Vulnerable individuals, including the elderly, receive monthly stipends of ₦10,000. The commissioner explained that each set of beneficiaries is enrolled for nine months to a year before the cycle restarts, ensuring wide coverage.
In addition, unemployed but able-bodied residents have been placed in community jobs and paid stipends. “They do some menial jobs within the state and then get paid,” Oglegba explained, adding that selection is done through the state’s social register.
There’s also a direct intervention component for underserved communities. Locals are invited to choose essential projects — such as boreholes, schools, or clinics — and manage them with government funds. As of April, 54 such projects have been completed statewide, all reportedly with full success.
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