Agboyi-Ketu Chair empowers 400 traders with over N20m
The Executive Chairman, Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Mr Dele Oshinowo, on Monday empowered no fewer than 400 petty traders with over N20 million to mitigate current socio-economic hardship.
Oshinowo, at the council’s monthly “WeLift 400 Petty Traders Initiative” said that grassroots governance should be all about empowering the people and making life better for them.
The monthly scheme, witnessed by the Lagos State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, and top politicians saw the direct transfer of N50,000 cash support to 400 traders selected from various markets in the council.
“The WeLift400 initiative is designed to empower 400 residents of Agboyi-Ketu by providing them with a grant of 50,000 naira each.
“This financial support aims to enhance their means of livelihood, alleviate their burdens, and pave the way for greater economic stability.
“This is what I have been doing in the last five years. Our “WeLift Empowerment Programme” has just taken a new dimension now with better methodology to ensure transparency.
“The rational behind it is to lift people from abject poverty and alleviate their suffering.
“We have decided to help them with token we believe will have multiplier effects on their trade,” Oshinowo said.
The Chairman said that his team went round markets and streets to do on-the-spot assessment and market values of some traders, and those who met the criteria, were selected to enjoy the gesture.
According to him, the council partnered with Sterling Bank in the May Edition of the initiative which empowered 450 traders with N50,000 each, but decided to partner with Providus Bank in June gesture.
He said that the banks would open the account for the beneficiary and the transfer the money directly into their account to prevent diversion and other compromise from human agents.
He said that all the beneficiaries had received the N50,000 bank alert right from the event and the ATM issued to them for withdrawal.
Oshinowo added: “Let us reaffirm our commitment to supporting the dreams and aspirations of every member of our community.
“Our administration will continue to be a pillar of support, fostering an environment where opportunity knows no bounds and every individual has the chance to realize their full potential.
“We will continue to do this, empowering our people is very important especially during this difficult time that our President is trying to put the country on the path of sustainable prosperity and progress.
“This is what we are doing and we are going to continue to do that till the end of my tenure.
“We will continue to empower our people, build infrastructure, improve on grassroots healthcare, helping our youths, elderly people, building our security and community.”
Expressing satisfaction with the feedbacks from past gestures, Oshinowo said that the success had been an encouragement to him.
.Noting that the gesture had no political colouration, the council boss said that his team always engaged the community development associations.
In his remarks, the Lagos State APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, commended Oshinowo for all his giant developmental strides and populist programmes targeted at improving the welfare of the residents.
Ojelabi said that everyone including the party’s state executive had been watching Oshinowo’s initiatives for the betterment of the people, adding that the party was not disappointed in the council boss.
“The state exco has seen this your gestures to the people by ourselves, we are proud with what we have seen. I want to thank you for remembering the son of whom you are.
“You as truly serving the people with all your strengths, and complementing the efforts of the state government, promoting and expanding the goodwill of our party.
“You are growing the economy and putting food on the table of the vulnerable.
“With these you are doing, you are securing a better future for yourself. Continue to do what you know how to do best, you shall be rewarded,” he said.
While advising the beneficiaries to make the best use of the grant, Ojelabi urged Oshinowo to do more to make life better for the people at the grassroots.
Urging the people to persevere the more with the Federal Government in its efforts to right all wrongs, Ojelabi assured that people that there would be light at the end of the tunnel.
Also speaking, Chief Jumoko Okoya-Thomas, the APC Women Leader in Lagos State, who applauded Oshinowo for prioritising the people above personal and political interest, said that she was impressed by the chairman records of help to the less privileged.
Okoya-Thomas advised all the beneficiaries to see the N50,000 as a seed and turn it around and create wealth with it, ” it is not for party or social functions”
“The chairman has done very well and he deserves to go further politically, ” he said.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke glowingly about the empowerment initiative, note that their businesses would received a boost and survival the challenges.
Mrs Yemisi Ayeni from Ward G, who commended Oshinowo for the gesture, adding that it would go a long way to alleviate the current economic challenges.
Also expressing her joy about the initiative, Mrs. Yinusa Adejoke a food vendor said, ” Oshinowo is doing well. He is always surprising us. May God reward him.”
Alhaja Kadijat Badejo said that the the multiplier effect of the gesture would go beyond her trading activity alone.
The event was attended by APC state and local government executive council members, traditional rulers and other groups.
