From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
Determined to cushion the effects of the economic crunch plaguing the country, the senator representing Ogun West at the National Assembly, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, at the weekend, empowered no fewer than 5,000 traders in his district.
The traders, under the aegis of Ogun West Market Women and Men, and selected across the five local government areas in the senatorial district were given a sum of N50,000 each as financial grants.
Addressing the traders at the empowerment programme held in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government, Adeola emphasized that it had become imperative to contribute to the social-economic development of communities and the nation at large, particularly in this period Nigerians are going through economic challenges.
He noted that the financial grant was to help in sustaining and expanding businesses of the beneficiaries, declaring that the concept tagged “Oloja Yayi” was his regular facilitated support fund for market men and women which has come to stay in the senatorial district.
Adeola, who is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, disclosed that he facilitated the programme in conjunction with the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research with start-up grants for the traders.
The senator added that the grant was a micro financing to boost the businesses of market men and women, clarifying that it was not a loan but a grant to bring succour to a critical sector of the people.
While saying that beneficiaries of the empowerment scheme were drawn from the five local government areas that constitute the Ogun West senatorial district, Adeola stressed that his vision was to further impact directly on critical sectors of the society in ways to cushion the effects of the downturn of the economy on vulnerable persons.
He stated further that the empowerment scheme was deliberately designed to support the empowerment scheme for traders in the state tagged ‘Oko’wo Dapo’ by Governor Dapo Abiodun.
He, however, appealed to the traders to judiciously apply the grant to increase their various trades.
In her remarks, Mrs Yemisi Abass, the Iyaloja General, Ogun State, appreciated the lawmaker for the kind gesture, saying that it was the second year the market men and women would be benefiting from the grant.
Mrs. Abass thanked Adeola for doubling the grants received last year and for keeping to the electoral promises he made to the people of Ogun West.