- Westo Adekunle Adejumo | Premier World New
Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi), CON, FCA, representing Ogun West Senatorial District, on Friday concluded the fifth edition of his statewide Oloja Yayi Empowerment Programme, facilitating ₦300 million in cash grants to 4,000 market women and men in Ogun West Senatorial District.
The grand finale, held yesterday at the Asade Agunloye Pavilion, Ilaro, marked the final phase of the empowerment programme after similar exercises in Ogun Central and Ogun East Senatorial Districts.
With the completion of the Ogun West edition, 10,000 traders across Ogun State have benefited from the initiative in its latest cycle.
Each beneficiary received a ₦75,000 non-refundable grant, bringing the total disbursement in Ogun West to ₦300 million.
Speaking during the event, Senator Adeola, who chairs the Senate Committee on Appropriations, described the intervention as a deliberate effort to strengthen micro and small-scale businesses, improve household livelihoods and stimulate grassroots economic activities.
He explained that the financial support was a grant rather than a loan, stressing that beneficiaries were under no obligation to repay the funds.
“The grant is intended to strengthen existing businesses, provide relief for struggling micro-enterprises and stimulate economic growth at the grassroots”, the senator said.
According to him, the Oloja Yayi Empowerment Programme has evolved into a regular intervention designed to cushion the impact of prevailing economic challenges on market men and women while supporting sustainable enterprise development.
The programme has witnessed progressive expansion over successive editions, reflecting a sustained commitment to improving the economic capacity of traders across Ogun State’s three senatorial districts.
The Ilaro event attracted an array of political leaders, government officials and market stakeholders from across the state.
Among the dignitaries present were the APC Deputy Governorship Candidate, Alhaja Kudirat Abiodun Adegunwa-Balogun; former Deputy Governors Alhaja Salmot Badru and Prince Segun Adesegun; the senator’s wife, Mrs. Temitope Adeola; Mrs. Yemisi Salako, wife of the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare; Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oluranti Elemide; former Speaker Rt. Hon. Suraju Adekunmbi; Senator Lekan Mustapha; Hon. Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI).
Others include; the Iyaloja General of Ogun State, Mrs. Yemisi Abbas; Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Hon. Olaolu Olabimtan; Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Wasiu Isiaka; Commissioner for Commerce, Hon. Sofela; Deputy Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Lateefat Ajayi; Chief Olu Agemo; Hon. Muftau Ajibola; Hon. Bisiriyu Popoola; Olori Adebisi Olaotan, alongside several Iyalojas, Babalojas and market leaders from across Ogun State.
Beneficiaries, drawn from markets across the five local government areas of Ogun West Senatorial District, expressed appreciation for the initiative, describing it as timely support for small businesses facing economic pressures.
The completion of the fifth edition of the Oloja Yayi Empowerment Programme stresses ongoing efforts to strengthen grassroots commerce through direct support for traders, with the initiative now extending to thousands of beneficiaries across Ogun State.
