Ikoyi-Obalende council boss empowers 400 women
By Olayinka Olawale
The Chairman, Ikoyi Obalende Local Council Development Area, Lagos State, Mr Faud Atanda-Lawal, on Friday, gave 400 women grants of N50,000 each to improve their livelihood.
Speaking at the presentation of the grants to beneficiaries on Friday in Lagos, Atanda-Lawal said it was meant to support women in the council area to start or grow their businesses.
He said the beneficiaries would also get one year health insurance as well as training on financial literacy.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme tagged, “Empowering Her Fortune,” was in collaboration with VFD Microfinance Bank.
Atanda-Lawal said the council, through the Microfinance bank, opened a new bank account for each beneficiary for the payment of the grants.
The council boss noted that the initiative was designed to ensure that the council played it part in improving the livelihood its constituents.
He reiterated the commitment of his administration to raising the standard of living of all residents.
“Being in government is all about serving people and that is why there’s a human face in whatever we are doing.
“I decided that after doing infrastructural work, renovating schools, doing roads and building hospitals, what can we do for the people?
“We came up with this initiative and I am excited because of the reaction here today. You can see the joy in the faces of this women as they received the alert.
“We said let’s see how we can empower women so that they can grow their businesses.
“Today, 400 women received N50,000 each to improve their businesses and we are glad we did this,” he said.
Beneficiaries of the empowerment programme on Friday in Lagos
Atanda-Lawal noted that the council would continue to empower residents of the LCDA, and that the council would soon inaugurate other notable projects.
“By the special grace of God, we will come back in two months’ time to present grants to another set of beneficiaries.
“Things are very hard now but we must help. At Ikoyi-Obalende LCDA, we love our people so much and we are not going to watch them starve.
“This community has given so much to us and we have to give back to them, I’m the chairman today, someone else will be there tomorrow and we pray they will continue on this part of development,” he said.
He charged local government chairmen to live up to expectation by empowering residents of their constituencies during this period.
He urged local government chairmen not to leave their responsibilities to the state and federal governments, adding that the local government had a role to play in nation building.
“We shouldn’t be relegated, we should continue the work for the development of our people.
“Let’s step in, and if we do what we are supposed to do, the complaints from people will reduce,” he said.
Dr Abiodun Onayele, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, lauded the council boss for empowering women.
He said any support made towards the cause of womanhood would have a multiplier effect on the society at large.
He urged the council not to relent in his quest to improve service to the people at the grassroots.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to NAN commended the gesture of the chairman.
Miss Habibat Amodu, a 20 years-old Point of Sale (POS) operator, expressed happiness upon receiving the alert, describing it as a life saver.
Amodu said she would add the grant to her capital to boost her business.
“I want to thank the chairman of Ikoyi-Obalende LCDA for empowering women and adding value to my live.
“I didn’t believe it initially but now, I can say it is real,” she said.
Mrs Rasidat Egbudu, a meat seller, also appreciated the chairman for the support at the time when things were difficult in the country.
Egbudu noted that this was the first time she benefited from a government support programme.
“I am very excited, I just received my alert. This empowerment programme is real. Thank you my Atanda-Lawal for putting smile on my face.
“I will invest this money in my business and I know in the next six months it will grow more.
I have not received any support like this before, this is real,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Salif Atojoko
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