Empowering Enterprise, Transforming Lives: Senator YAYI Invests ₦225 Million in 3,000 Ogun East Traders

 

By Femi Mebude
Ijebu Today Newspaper
07066675577 | 08053044503

For thousands of market women and men across Ogun East Senatorial District, hope arrived not merely as a promise but as tangible support. Inside the historic Ojude Oba Pavilion at the Awujale Palace, Ijebu-Ode, excitement, gratitude and renewed optimism filled the atmosphere as 3,000 traders received ₦75,000 each in non-refundable business grants from the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, CON, FCA (YAYI).

The intervention, valued at ₦225 million, was delivered under the fifth edition of the Market Women/Men Support Fund Empowerment Programme, popularly known as the "Oloja YAYI" Initiative. More than an empowerment programme, the initiative demonstrated a deliberate investment in grassroots enterprise, designed to strengthen small businesses, improve household incomes and stimulate sustainable economic growth across Ogun East and Ogun State at large.

The atmosphere at the pavilion reflected the significance of the occasion as beneficiaries, many of whom had travelled from various communities across the district, expressed appreciation for what they described as timely support capable of revitalising their businesses amid prevailing economic challenges. For many, the grant represented fresh capital to restock goods, expand trading activities and improve financial stability.

Addressing the gathering, Senator Adeola reaffirmed his commitment to supporting market women and men, whom he described as the backbone of the state's economy and indispensable contributors to commerce, food distribution and community development.

He recalled that the Oloja YAYI Initiative was first introduced in Ogun West Senatorial District during his 2023 senatorial campaign. Following the remarkable success recorded there, sustained appeals from traders in Ogun Central and Ogun East encouraged the expansion of the programme into a broader statewide intervention.

According to the Senator, the current phase is being implemented in partnership with the National Productivity Centre (NPC) in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, aimed at boosting productivity, promoting entrepreneurship and strengthening micro, small and medium-scale enterprises at the grassroots.

He emphasised that the financial support was a grant and not a loan, assuring beneficiaries that repayment would not be required. Rather, he encouraged them to invest the funds prudently by increasing business capital, expanding inventory and improving their commercial activities to achieve sustainable growth.

Senator Adeola disclosed that the Oloja YAYI Initiative has expanded steadily since its inception, with thousands of traders already benefiting from previous grants ranging between ₦25,000 and ₦75,000. He noted that the programme has become one of Ogun State's most impactful market empowerment schemes, providing practical financial support to small-scale entrepreneurs.

Beyond direct grants, the Senator highlighted several infrastructure projects executed to improve the business environment. He revealed that within the last three and a half years, he has facilitated the construction of 43 modern markets alongside other complementary projects across Ogun State.

Within Ogun East Senatorial District, he listed the construction of ultra-modern markets in Abigi (Ogun Waterside Local Government Area), Mobalufon Trailer Park (Odogbolu Local Government Area) and Ogijo (Sagamu Local Government Area). He further disclosed that numerous motorised and solar-powered boreholes have been provided across major markets, while solar-powered streetlights have also been installed to improve security and create a more conducive trading environment.

The Senator assured traders who were not accommodated in the present phase that future editions would provide additional opportunities for eligible beneficiaries. He reiterated his commitment to sustaining the initiative and expressed his desire to institutionalise the programme should he be elected Governor of Ogun State in 2027.

Responding to concerns over beneficiary selection, Senator Adeola maintained that the process was transparent, fair and devoid of political influence. According to him, the programme is intended to serve qualified market women and men across Ogun State irrespective of political affiliation, ethnicity or religious background.

He urged beneficiaries to utilise the grants responsibly by investing in productive ventures capable of improving profitability, increasing family incomes and contributing to local economic development..

As the event drew to a close, the significance of the intervention extended far beyond the distribution of financial assistance. It underscored the growing importance of empowering grassroots entrepreneurs as a practical strategy for economic transformation. By placing capital directly in the hands of market traders, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola has reinforced the role of small businesses as vital drivers of inclusive growth, community resilience and sustainable development across Ogun East Senatorial District.