By Comfort Olayinka
The Senator Representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Sen. Olamilekan Adeola has disclosed it is now time to deliver on dividends of democracy, insisting that time for politicking has ended.
He spoke at his mega Empowerment programme in Ilaro, Yewa South local government area Ogun State.
Senator Adeola said that he is not apologetic in empowering his constituents.
The empowerment programme which coincided with his first town hall meeting held at the open field of Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun state.
The empowerment programme was for artisans trained on various economically viable skills such as ICT, Agric value-chain, hairdressing, make up, barbing, solar, power, interlocking, phone repairs, grinding machine, tailoring, vulcanizing, rice miling, shoe making, POP among others.
Addressing the mammoth crowd, Senator Adeola Yayi said the mega empowerment programme was designed to renew the hopes of the good people of Ogun West by providing much needed start up grants, various empowerment equipment for selected constituents and institutions of government working for the welfare of his constituents.
He stressed that, apart from the beneficiaries, community associations, government institutions were also empowered with transformers, ambulances, security patrol vehicles.
He emphasized that, 12,000 beneficiaries would go home with requisite equipment worth over N2billion naira, while others got start up grants in cash worth N1billion naira. His words: “This time is not for campaigning, election has gone. This is the time to deliver dividends of democracy, i am not apologetic in empowering my people.
“Within the period of less than a year under consideration, I established a scholarship and bursary board comprising of eminent academics for the senatorial district. Only a few days ago, the first set of awards of scholarship and bursaries were presented to students of tertiary institutions at the rate of 200,000 Naira for university graduates, N180,000 naira for polytechnic undergraduates and N150,000 naira for college of education undergraduates for 1,532 students.
“Similarly, only yesterday, I empowered 5000 market women and men in the second edition of my programme of support fund for our market traders with 50,000 naira each after a similar one last February, shortly before the election of 2023. In due course, I look forward to all members of market women and men benefitting from this support fund scheme tagged Oloja Yayi.
“But as a stop gap measure to provide gainful self employment and means of livelihood for our people, I have embarked on the training of women and youths in entrepreneurship development , skills acquisition and today we are going to empower all of the with equipment and start up grants to start practicing their skills and earning income.
“The process for selection and training started in the first week of October last year with collection and submission of forms by applicants and subsequent selection for various trainings in 11 different vocations. The training was brought close to the people as youths and women were trained at Ilaro, Ipokia , imeko, Ado Odo Ota, and Aiyetoro representing the 5 LGAs in Ogun West. The target is for gainfully self employment for youths and women irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliation in Ogun West.
“As a legislator of over 21 years at state and federal level, I have made of paramount importance to ensure that as many youths and women as.
“Possible are given requisite skills and empowerment to establish them in gainfully self employment. In our present situation, in addition to good education, skills of various kinds are advantages in generating income and combating rising unexplained under-employment.
“Towards this end, many training for skill acquisition, entrepreneurship development and iCT as well as empowerment with equipment are ways that I achieve effective representation. To the glory of God, tens of thousands have benefited from these programmes facilitated by me and making a modest living out of their acquired skills and trades.”
He, however, said he had sponsored eight bills while moving two motions for the consideration of the senate.
