No fewer than 10 petty traders in Akute have benefited from the Rotary Club of Akute’s 2020 Micro Credit Scheme.
Rotary Club of Akute, one of the Rotary clubs under the umbrella of Rotary International, District 9110, Nigeria which covers all Rotary clubs in Lagos and Ogun states, started the micro credit scheme in the 2007 - 2008 Rotary year with the sum N100, 000.
The Micro Credit Project was put to a halt after the 2009 - 2010 Rotary year but was resuscitated in the 2014 - 2015 Rotary year with the sum of N120,000 granted to 6 beneficiaries at N20, 000 each.
The club since then, made it an annual project as several petty traders in the community have benefited from the scheme over the years and the seed fund has grown to N150,000 and currently to N500,000.
The 10 beneficiaries, on Saturday, August 22 converged at Zumratul Islamiyyah (ZI) Primary School in Akute located in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun state where the club members led by the Club President, Ogunmola Sulaimon presented them with the cheques. A sum of N500, 000 was presented to them at N50, 000 each.
The presentation was witnessed by the District Governor, Bola Oyebade who was on his official visit to the club. He congratulated the beneficiaries and commended the club for reaching out to the petty traders who rely on the support from the club to sustain their trades.
The club took advantage of the District Governor’s visit to also donate literature books to Asore Grammar School, Akute the same day. Receiving the books from the club was one of the school teachers, Mrs Adereti Felicia and a student of the school.
Another major annual project of the club is the Adult Literacy Programme organized by the club and conducted at ZI Primary School for adults in the community who were not privileged to acquiring basic education.
Every year, the club sponsors at least 4 students through at least basic 6 syllabus and certificates are awarded to them during the District Governor’s visit to the club but that couldn’t hold this Rotary year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Principal, ZI Primary School, Mrs Adebayo who also witnessed the micro credit presentation and the literature books donation by the club appreciated the club members for their contribution towards the upliftment of the people of Akute and its environs.
“Every year, it has been projects in one form or the other”, said Mrs Adebayo. “The adult literacy programme has been very helpful and year in, year out, you produce graduates”, she added.
The club had earlier in the day planted some trees within the premises of ZI Primary School as part of its contribution towards the preservation of the ecosystem which is being threatened by climate change.
