The
company in a statement said that the N500 million was part of its 100 million
Dollars Global Grants Programme announced earlier in the year.
Facebook
on Monday said it will support 781 small businesses in Nigeria with N500
million grant to cushion the effects of COVID-19.
It
said that the global grant programme was aimed at supporting 30,000 Small and
Medium Businesses (SMBs) in over 30 countries.
According
to Facebook, the grant was also aimed at stimulating economic recovery
following the effects of COVID-19, noting that it would help empower and extend
a lifeline to local small business owners who have been most affected.
“The
grants will be administered and managed by Deloitte in partnership with FATE
Foundation and Afrigrants.
“It
will be provided as a combination of cash and advert credits to help small
businesses as they rebuild, re-engineer and recover operations during this
challenging year.
“It
is available to qualifying SMBs in Nigeria and applications will be open from
Aug 24, for the North East, North West and South East regions.
“For
those in the South West, South-South and North Central regions applications
will be opened on Aug. 26, at www.facebook.com/grantsforbusiness,” it said.
The
company said that because it also realised that SMBs needed training,
digitisation and improved social connection infrastructure as consumer
behaviour shifts online, it had rolled out virtual versions of its in-person
training `Boost with Facebook across Nigeria’.
It
said that the free webinars and online resources covered a range of topics from
how to take a business online, build resilience, stay connected with customers
and adapt in real-time.
Commenting,
Nunu Ntshingila, Regional Director, Facebook Africa said: “We know small
businesses are the engine of the Nigerian economy, the pandemic has extended
beyond a public health crisis to an economic emergency, with these businesses
most affected.
“We
are listening to the challenges these small business owners are facing right
now and want to provide useful resources for them during this difficult and
uncertain year.”
NAN
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