By Kazeem Akande

Ayobo Ipaja Local Council Development Area (LCDA), on Monday empowered 1000 traders, artisans and other residents with N100million.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports that beneficiaries were given N100,000 cash grant each, to support their businesses.

Speaking at the empowerment programme held at the council secretariat, Chairman of the LCDA, Mr Ladi Oluwaloni, said that his administration was committed to fostering economic prosperity and uplifting lives in the council area.

“Today we are here to launch Ajumose Season 1, the Growth Together Entrepreneur Empowerment Grant.

“This is not merely an event; it is a bold declaration of our administration’s unshakable commitment to fostering economic prosperity, uplifting lives, and building a vibrant, inclusive Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA.

“Today, we take a historic step by empowering over 1,000 hardworking entrepreneurs across our wards with non-repayable grants to strengthen and expand their businesses.

“These grants are more than financial support;they are a testament to our belief in your ingenuity, resilience, and determination.

“They are seeds of opportunity, planted to cultivate a harvest of sustainable livelihoods, job creation, and community progress,” he said.

He said the beneficiaries included tradesmen and artisans, members of transport unions, Community Development Association officials and others.

The chairman said the empowerment was informed by the council’s belief that small and medium-scale enterprises are the soul of any thriving economy and community.

He said the grants would promote, innovation, create employment, and break the chains of poverty in the area.

“We are nurturing a culture of enterprise, paving the way for financial independence, and ensuring that every citizen has a stake in our collective growth.

“This is not just a programme; it is a movement to transform lives and re-write the economic story of Ayobo-Ipaja,” the chairman said.

Speaking, a traditional ruler, Oba Ahmed Orelope-Laka, Elegbeda of Egbeda, thanked the council boss for his development initiatives.

He said Oluwaloni had impacted many lives since he assumed as chairman of the council a few months ago.

“Let me also say here categorically that this type of empowerment is new to me in this Ayobo/Ipaja Community.

“This is first of its kind for a chairman to empower the residents with this huge amount of money to support businesses.

“We really appreciate this gesture by the LCDA chairman and I have no doubt that this will go a long way in supporting businesses,” he said.

Mr Wole Aina, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Party Chairman in the LCDA, also commended the council chairman for impacting lives in the area.

“This is the first time this large number of people are benefitting from an empowerment programme.

“Let us support the chairman and participate actively in the coming local government elections to bring about more development.

“The primary election is approaching, let us imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship, no matter the outcome.

“At the same time, we appeal to you to use these grants for your businesses and not for unimportant things,” he said.

Mrs Taibat Awosika, one of the beneficiaries, thanked the council chairman, saying the money would go a long way to grow her trade.

Awosika added the N100,000 would be used to stock her shop with goods. (NAN)

Edited by Buhari Bolaji