Yayi Doles N75k Trade-Boost Each To 4000 Ogun West Market Traders

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, CON, FCA (YAYI), has reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening grassroots commerce and improving the welfare of market traders with the successful hosting of the Ogun West edition of the 5th Market Women/Men Support Fund Empowerment Programme.

The programme, held at the Asade Agunloye Pavilion, Ilaro, marked the conclusion of the statewide empowerment exercise across the three senatorial districts of Ogun State. At the event, 4,000 market women and men from Ogun West received ₦75,000 grants each, amounting to ₦300 million, to strengthen their businesses and improve their economic viability.

Addressing the beneficiaries, Senator Adeola said the intervention, implemented in partnership with the National Productivity Centre, aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. He emphasized that the support is a grant—not a loan—designed to stimulate small businesses, promote entrepreneurship, and cushion the impact of prevailing economic challenges.

The Senator recalled that the Oloja YAYI initiative began in 2023 as a promise to provide sustained financial support to market women and men in Ogun West. He noted that the programme has since expanded beyond the district to become a statewide intervention, reaching thousands of traders across Ogun Central, Ogun East, and Ogun West.

Beyond direct financial support, Senator Adeola highlighted several infrastructure projects facilitated to improve trading activities and create a more conducive business environment. He disclosed that he has facilitated the construction of 43 modern markets and ancillary facilities, with Ogun West receiving a significant share of the projects. The markets are located in Lusada, Agosasa, Ijoun, Igbo Aje in Ilaro, Sayedero Market, Farmers’ Market in Ilobi-Erinja, Obada Market, Ilara Market, and TT. Dada Market in Ota.

He also listed the installation of 10 solar-powered boreholes across major markets in Ilaro, Owode, Ayetoro, Oja-Odan, Ipokia, Tube, Imeko, TT. Dada Market, and Lusada, providing traders with reliable access to clean water.

To enhance security and extend trading hours, the Senator further facilitated the installation of solar-powered streetlights in 20 major markets across Ogun West, including TT. Dada, Lusada, Atan, Owode, Tube, Koko, Sayedero, Oja-Odan, Ijoun, Ayetoro, Imeko, Ilara, Iwoye, Obada, Sabo Owode, Ijoko Ota, Agosasa, Ado-Odo, and Igbo Aje markets.

Senator Adeola assured traders who were not captured in the current phase that the empowerment programme would continue to expand in future editions, expressing his determination to ensure that more market women and men benefit from the initiative.

He urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the grants by investing them in their businesses, noting that proper utilization of the funds would improve household incomes, stimulate grassroots economic growth, and further strengthen the commercial sector across Ogun State.