The Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) has thrown its weight behind the business grant initiative of Kestin Pondi, announcing N10 million support for each of 10 additional beneficiaries.
The intervention was unveiled on Monday during the grand finale of Pondi’s empowerment programme, which had initially targeted 50 entrepreneurs.
Announcing the commission’s support, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of DESOPADEC, Festus Ochonogor, commended Pondi for what he described as a bold intervention aimed at empowering local entrepreneurs.
“Government cannot do everything. Initiatives like this complement the efforts of government and directly empower our people,” Ochonogor said.
The Executive Director of Finance and Administration at DESOPADEC, Oghenekome Reginald Okpobor, described the initiative as a demonstration of visionary leadership capable of transforming lives.
“What we witnessed today goes beyond philanthropy. This is a deliberate economic empowerment that will strengthen families, support small businesses and stimulate growth across our communities,” he said.
According to him, when individuals with the capacity to help others step forward, the impact can be far-reaching.
The event witnessed a dramatic turn when the grant initially fixed at N5 million per beneficiary was doubled to N10 million for the original 50 beneficiaries, leaving many of them visibly stunned.
The development also opened the door for DESOPADEC to extend the programme by adding 10 more beneficiaries, each receiving N10 million.
Further boosting the initiative, the General Manager Operations of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Godfrey Pondi, announced support for another 10 beneficiaries.
Also lending his support, the Delta State Commissioner for Power and Energy, Ifeanyi Anoka, pledged grants for an additional 10 beneficiaries.
With the new additions, the total number of beneficiaries rose to 80, while the overall value of the grants reached N800 million.
Other officials present at the event included the Executive Director of Social Services at DESOPADEC, Favour Izoukumor, and the board member representing the Urhobo nationality, Oghenekaro Goru.
