The Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Chief Kestin Pondi, has empowered forty small businesses with a N200 million business grant.
The initiative, which saw each business getting a business support fund of N5 million each, was an initiative of the Kestin Pondi Business Grant Scheme.
The scheme, which was announced on February 4, 2025, to mark Pondi’s birthday, attracted entries from over 9,000 businesses across the country.
That number was pruned down to 40, following a rigorous screening process with the intention to support the top twenty businesses.
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The top 40 applicants underwent an oral screening process on Wednesday to pitch their businesses before an independent committee led by Victor Isereke.
The pitch gave all entrepreneurs room to fight for a place among the top twenty on a levelled ground, even as the committee was faced with the daunting task of seaving out the most viable businesses.
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The pre-qualified entrepreneurs also received training on business management with emphasis on cost management, financial record management, and self developing.
Addressing the beneficiaries, the billionaire businessman charged the entrepreneurs to put the fund into proper use and stay committed to their businesses going forward.
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Speaking to newsmen after the ceremony, Pondi said;
“It’s a great thing to help people. I derive joy in helping people. I believe that one needs to always give back to society. If I have N1, I should be able to give 50 percent of it to people in need.
“For this grant, we just looked at the fact that there are a lot of small businesses that needed that push. This is just an opportunity we have created for them to grow.
Winners og the Kestin Pondi Business Grant are:
A Million Foodmart, Aso Rock Block Industry, Abdulrahman Couture, Amaezan Hub & Creations, Autotive Engineering & Innovations, Ayakoro Gbeinbo Ventures, Bennudoh Merchandise & Trading Company, Bethwei Beauty Luxe, Bubbee Logistics, Cedar Plus Logistics Company, Cleaner Janitor QDatabasics Hub, Erewor by Preye, Everything Kara, Fadda Faddaz Apparel, Foodies Game, Friday Akposeye Chemist Store, GT’s Place, Godorra Hub Training, and Great Minds in Tech Foundation.
Others are Havilah’s Hair Haven, Jijiklins Laundrycity, Leolish Artistry Lucky Abolo Oil Production, M &E Cake &Cuisine, M&E Foods, Marve White Records, Navid Star School Onomzklick PPG Farms, Planet Power International Limited, Ricky Car Care Risurge Digitals, Sweet Smokey Grils, Tam Delichops, Twins Nursing & Maternity Home, and Zitu Clothing.
The beneficiaries will also enjoy entrepreneurial guidance from the Kestin Pondi Business Grant Scheme as a way to monitor the growth of their businesses.
