By Yinusa Ishola
Omu-Aran (Kwara) – No fewer than 1,050 widows in Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency in Kwara have benefitted from a cash empowerment initiative worth N10.5 million to boost their trading and commercial activities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the empowerment programme, which was held in phases across the four local government areas within the constituency, was put together by the constituency office of Rep. Raheem Olawuyi in Omu-Aran.
The breakdown of the figures showed that 275 widows benefitted from Irepodun and Isin Local Government Areas with 11 wards each while 250 widows benefitted from Ekiti and Oke-Ero Local Government Areas which have 10 wards each.
The total sum of N10.5 million was shared among the beneficiaries with each of the widows going home with N10, 000 to improve their businesses.
Olawuyi, in his remarks at the closing phase of the exercise at his constituency office in Omu-Aran on Sunday, said the effort was in fulfilment of his campaign promises to the electorate during the last general elections.
He said the initiative was a product of an in-depth research and fact-finding which revealed that just a token amount was needed by some constituents to turn around their fortunes for the better.
According to him, with that token amount added to their existing small businesses, some of the constituents can on their own take care of the feeding, school fees and other pressing needs of their families.
“I promised during the elections that I will always check on them, interact with them to share in their pains. This is in fulfilment of that promise.
“I also did promise then that I will not wait till the time their service is needed before giving them their dues in form of the dividend of democracy for them to be self-sufficient.
“That is exactly what we are doing today and what this empowerment actually stands to achieve,” he said.
Olawuyi said that his constituency office had also embarked on sinking of some boreholes across major locations within the constituency to ease perennial water shortages.
“Most of these boreholes project are already at 80 per cent completion stage and they were allocated based on the need and demand of respective beneficiaries,” he said.
Olawuyi, while soliciting for the understanding and support from the constituents, urged those who had yet to benefit to remain hopeful and optimistic, saying nobody would be left out.
Speaking, Chief Iyiola Oyedepo, an All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain in the state, lauded Olawuyi for promoting the party’s principles and ideology.
“This is exactly what our party preaches and stands for as we are always focused on teaching the electorate how to fish and be self-reliant.
“With this initiative, we are rest assured that our party members will continue to increase in manifold,” he said.
Contributing, Mr Yemi Aransiola, APC Chairman in Irepodun Local Government Area, described the initiative as “unprecedented, timely and beneficial’’.
“We are proud to associate with this laudable initiative and I want to implore the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the largesse for them to be self-reliant and productive,’’ Aransiola said.
Mrs Racheal Adebayo and Mrs Nike Mathew, both beneficiaries, in their remarks, commended Olawuyi for the gesture.
(NAN)
