COVID-19: Over 5,000 textile dealers driven out of business in Kwara

More than 5,000 textile dealers in Kwara State have said that they have been driven out of business by the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking with journalists on the sideline of N50 million fundraising themed, “Uplifting the less privileged members” to save indigent members from poverty, state chairman of the Textile Dealers Association of Nigeria (KWSTDAN), Alhaji Abdulafeez Laaro, said that, “The reason for the event is to assist some of our indigent members that were badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The pandemic led to the global economic meltdown. The meltdown affected businesses all over. In the aftermath of the COVID-19, no fewer than 5,000 registered members of our association were severely affected. Many of our members are currently out of business as a result of the adverse effect of the pandemic on our business.

“Before this time the association decided to be giving soft loans to cushion the effect on the less privileged members of the association. We have been doing that, but with the current hike in the price of everything in the country such loans might not suffice.

“The essence of the programme is to solicit support from well-to-do members of the association and public-spirited members of the society to raise funds for our members that have been driven out of business because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We hope to raise a sum of N50 million and the funds would be used to assist members who are out or almost out of business. Duly registered members of the association that were affected in Kwara central alone is well above 5,000. our membership cuts across other senatorial districts of the state.”

He urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the opportunity.

The state Commissioner for Enterprise, Hajia Arinola Lawal represented by Director, Commerce in the ministry, Ibrahim Sani, had put in place windows of opportunity to assist traders in the state.

The commissioner revealed that the government recently resuscitated the bureau of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME).

“KWSTDAN is one of the formidable associations we have in the state. The association has been in partnership with the
ministry for the economic development of the state.

“Successive governments have been assisting the association. And this government will continue to assist members of the association. There are so many government’s programmes that they have been part of. Others are still coming. We the Owo isoowo for petty traders and also the state bureau of MSME has just been resuscitated. All these are
windows of assisting the members of the association to promote their trade.”

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COVID-19: Over 5,000 textile dealers driven out of business in Kwara