Council Chair Empowers 400 Traders With N20M

The Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area, on Monday, empowered no fewer than 400 petty traders with over N20m to mitigate current socio-economic hardship

The Executive Chairman, Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Dele Oshinowo, said at the council’s monthly “WeLift 400 Petty Traders Initiative” 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, 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 WeLift initiative is designed to empower 400 residents of Agboyi-Ketu by providing them with a grant of N50,000 each.

“This financial support is aimed at enhancing their means of livelihood, alleviating their burdens, and paving 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 rationale behind it is to lift people from abject poverty and alleviate their suffering.

“We have decided to help them with a token, which 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 of the market values of some traders, and those who met its criteria were selected to enjoy the gesture.

He saw: “Let us reaffirm our commitment to support 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 realise their full potential.

“We will continue to empower our people, build infrastructure, improve on grassroots healthcare, help our youths and elderly people, and build our society and community.”

Expressing satisfaction with the feedbacks from past gestures, Oshinowo said that the success had been an encouragement to him.

In his remarks, the Lagos APC Chairman, Ojelabi, commended Oshinowo for his giant developmental strides and populist programmes targeted at improving the welfare of the residents.

“You are truly serving the people with all your strength and complementing the efforts of the state government, promoting and expanding the goodwill of our party,” he said.

Source: Punch

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