Many small business owners in the Niger Delta have received a major boost as the Kestin Pondi Business Grant awarded ₦10 million each to 80 entrepreneurs to support and expand their businesses.
The empowerment programme, which held on Monday in Effurun, Delta State, marked the second edition of the initiative designed to support small and growing businesses across the region.
The grant is sponsored by the Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, High Chief (Engr.) Kestin Pondi, as part of activities commemorating his birthday. The initiative has rapidly grown into one of the most impactful privately driven business empowerment programmes in the Niger Delta.
At the commencement of the event, 50 entrepreneurs were selected as primary beneficiaries, each receiving ₦10 million to strengthen and expand their businesses.
For many of the recipients, the grant represented a long-awaited opportunity to scale up their ventures, create employment, and secure improved economic stability.
The programme later expanded significantly following additional financial contributions from three prominent leaders who supported the initiative.
The General Manager (Operations) of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, High Chief Godfrey Tare Pondi, donated ₦100 million, which enabled 10 additional entrepreneurs to benefit from the grant.
Similarly, the Delta State Commissioner for Power and Energy, Engr. Michael Ifeanyi Anoka, contributed ₦100 million to support another 10 businesses.
Also lending support to the initiative, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Chief Festus M. Ochonogor, donated ₦100 million, providing grants for another 10 entrepreneurs.
With the additional contributions, the total number of beneficiaries increased from 50 to 80 entrepreneurs, bringing the overall value of grants disbursed during the ceremony to ₦800 million.
The atmosphere at the event was filled with excitement and gratitude as beneficiaries stepped forward to receive their grants. Many of them described the support as a life-changing opportunity to transform their small ventures into thriving enterprises.
The ceremony attracted several dignitaries and government officials, including the Executive Chairman of Uvwie Local Government Area, Hon. Anthony Ofoni; Delta State Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Local Government Affairs, Hon. Kelly Penawou; Commissioner for Power and Energy, Engr. Michael Ifeanyi Anoka; and Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Hon. Orode Uduaghan. Senior officials from DESOPADEC and Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited were also in attendance.
One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of a birthday cake to High Chief Kestin Pondi by members of the Business Grant Committee in appreciation of his commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and promoting grassroots economic development.
The Kestin Pondi Business Grant has continued to expand in scale and impact. During its maiden edition in 2025, the programme supported 40 entrepreneurs with ₦5 million each.
In the 2026 edition, both the grant amount and the number of beneficiaries doubled, with 80 entrepreneurs receiving ₦10 million each, reflecting the growing reach of the initiative.
For many of the beneficiaries, the grant represents more than financial support. It offers renewed hope and reinforces the belief that with the right backing, small businesses can thrive, generate employment, and contribute meaningfully to the economic growth of their communities.
The Kestin Pondi Business Grant has therefore emerged as a significant platform for business empowerment in the Niger Delta, demonstrating how private initiatives and collective support can drive economic transformation at the grassroots level.
