Agboyi-Ketu LCDA provides grants for 1000 petty traders
The Executive Chairman, Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr Dele Oshinowo, on Thursday provided financial grants for 1000 petty traders to mitigate socio-economic hardship and improve livelihood.
Oshinowo, at the council’s monthly “WeLift Community Empowerment Initiative” distributed N50,000 to some 1000 traders through direct bank transfer, supported by MTN Momo, a fin-tech subsidiary of MTN Nigeria.
The monthly scheme for September was unveiled by Sen. Tokunbo Abiru (APC- Lagos East) and witnessed by top politicians, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.
Oshinowo noted that grassroots governance should be all about empowering the people and making life better for them.
He said the initiative remained a catalyst for economic development.
“Since the inception of this Relief Empowerment Initiative, our goal has been clear, and it is to raise, support and empower the people of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, especially those who need it the most.
“This initiative has reached out to more than 4,000 people since the inception of my administration. We have disbursed close to N350 million to empower the poor.
“This year alone, we have been able to disburse N75 million to petty traders and households and we will still do two more this year.
“The motive behind this is for us to uplift our people, empower our people, empower our petty traders so that their lives can be better. It’s not going to stop,” he said.
Oshinowo said that his administration was committed to holistic development, both in terms of human capital and infrastructure.
The chairman, who highlighted his interventions in housing, education, sports, healthcare and roads, urged beneficiaries to use the grant to grow their business and in return, help their families.
In his remark, Abiru, the chairman of the occasion, applauded Oshinowo for raising the bar of grassroots governance.
He said that the chairman, with his numerous interventions, had brought the LCDA into limelight.
Announcing a N5 million support to the initiative to capture more people, Abiru urged other local government chairmen to take after Oshinowo.
He said: “This effort of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, under the leadership of Mayor Dele Oshinowo, reflects a deep commitment to the welfare of the community and a genuine understanding and timely response to the needs of the people.
“As we salute the leadership quality of Oshinowo, we cannot but thank our leaders for always giving us the best.
“This support becomes very necessary and important at times like this when our people are feeling the challenge of bold but inevitable policy decisions of our current government under the able leadership of President Bola Tinubu.
“You (Oshinowo) have indeed made us very proud as leaders by your impactful contributions to the development agenda of our dear State, particularly the empowerment of the people.
“Mr Chairman, this initiative speaks volumes about your leadership. Your remarkable strides in physical infrastructure,” Abiru said.
Appealing to people to show greater understanding with the President’s policy decisions, Abiru said that there would be light at the end of the tunnel.
According to him, in Lagos East Senatorial District under his watch, efforts are in top gear to put forward the second phase of social support programmes.
He urged the beneficiaries to apply the support to grow their businesses and to foster greater prosperity.
“I urge other public office holders to show empathy and concern to the plight of our people by placing a premium on people’s welfare as the Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA has exemplified today,” Abiru said.
Also, the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Mr Dayo Alebiosu, who applauded the council chairman, supported the initiative with N500,000.
One of the beneficiaries and a caterer, Mrs Damilola Oyekanmi, who applauded the council boss, said that she would use the money to grow her business.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Morufat Saheed, who poured prayers for Oshinowo, said the grant would help her family.
