Small business owners and artisans who showcased their products at the 8th National MSME Clinic in Calabar have accused the Federal Government of failing to release the N250,000 grants earlier promised them.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who inspected the exhibition during his one-day visit to Cross River State on August 12, 2025, had directed the immediate disbursement of the grants to selected exhibitors under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
But weeks after, many participants lament they have received nothing while only a handful were credited.
Some alleged they were misled to believe all exhibitors would benefit, prompting them to borrow heavily to prepare for the event.
A shoemaker and owner of Akumaye’s Global Conglomerate, Lawrence Akomaye, said organisers asked them to undergo training, rebrand their products, and invest in packaging for the exhibition.
“I borrowed money for labels, stickers and packaging. We were told to make our booths attractive. But on the day of the event, the Vice President only walked past one side of the hall.
“Now they are saying only ‘unique businesses’ were paid. We were never told there would be a selection process,” Akomaye said.
A fresh juice producer, Mrs Kuku Oden, said she spent over N150,000 on transportation, production and packaging but has not received a refund or grant.
“Some people got alerts after the event, but most of us didn’t. We later heard staff from the Vice President’s office took over the payment process. We were left confused,” she said, adding that the poor organisation of the event left many exhibitors isolated in separate halls with little visibility.
Others expressed dismay that the WhatsApp group created for exhibitors was locked by administrators, preventing them from sharing complaints or receiving updates.
“They treated us like we don’t matter,” said Rosemary Kekong, another exhibitor. “We spent money, brought our products, and got nothing. Later, we saw that even people who were not on the exhibitors’ list were credited.”
