Apatira Monthly Empowerment (AMEN) — September winners

Three winners have been selected for September under AMEN, the Apatira Monthly Empowerment programme.

Each will receive one hundred thousand naira in support of a business that is already trading.

Azeez Owolabi Ayeni runs a laundry business in Ogba.

He asked for more washing capacity and a small sum to restock chemicals.

The award buys a used but working machine to add to the equipment he already has, together with chemicals to keep the business running, and he plans to take on one apprentice alongside it.

His business will be monitored beyond the grant: the office will follow how the machine is actually used, because there is room for him to grow from laundry into a scheduled pick-up and drop-off service, with a mini logistics operation behind it.

Oluwabusayo Ayoade Ekundayo cooks and bakes from home, selling through social media and to offices with one paid assistant.

Her difficulty is that she has no walk-in outlet, so trade is irregular; the award provides a gas cylinder and cooker, pots and pans, insulated coolers, tables and seating, and a stock of baking and cooking ingredients to open a shopfront.

Omololu Favour Sessi has traded in liquid soap and souvenirs in Ogba Oluwole for two years with two staff, mixing every batch by hand.

That limits her to small orders.

The award buys a working soap mixing machine — scaled to what one hundred thousand naira can buy, rather than the full industrial unit first proposed — together with packaging materials, so that she can take on larger work.

She will also receive a free website for her business, fully designed and set up to be found on search engines, so that customers can find her online and not only by word of mouth.

HOW THE DECISION IS MEASURED.

Every application was assessed on five stated grounds: need, the likely impact, feasibility, the applicant's readiness, and fairness.

Each was scored twice, once against a fixed rubric that any reader can check, and once by an independent reading of the application itself.

Where the two disagreed widely, the application was read again on its own terms.

The office made the final selection, and the reasons for each award are recorded with the case.

HOW DELIVERY IS MEASURED.

Each award moves out of the pool and into the programme's impact register, which exists to record what the scheme has actually delivered rather than what it intended to.

What each business receives is listed item by item, so the money can be checked against the plan rather than taken on trust.

HOW USEFULNESS IS JUDGED.

Each award answers a problem the applicant named themselves: a machine to end hand-mixing, an outlet to end irregular trade, capacity to stop turning work away.

The test of the support is therefore a specific one, and it is the one the office will report against.

The three will be presented with their awards at a ceremony this month.

The office thanks every applicant and encourages those not selected this time to apply again in the next round.

HOW TO APPLY.

Applications are open to youths, small businesses and cooperatives in Ojodu LCDA, and applying is free — it commits you to nothing.

To apply, go to https://apatira.me/empowerment and complete the form online.

You will need three things ready.

Your National Identity Number (NIN), which is verified against the national identity record rather than taken on trust.

Your voter's card number (VIN), which is checked against the ward register.

And a photograph or scan of your LASSRA ID, as proof that you live or trade in the constituency.

You receive a reference number by email as soon as you submit.

The panel reviews the applications together each month and selects from them; if you are not selected this time, you may update your application and apply again in the next round.

If you would rather apply in person, or you have a question before you start, visit or call the office on +234 904 910 1934, or email info@apatira.me.