Sen. Solomon Adeola has disbursed N750 million to 10,000 market women and men across Ogun under the “Oloja Yayi” Market Support Fund.
This is contained in a statement made available to journalists in Abeokuta on Saturday by his Media Adviser, Kayode Odunaro.
According to the statement, the three-day empowerment programme, organised with the National Productivity Centre, was held from Wednesday to Friday across Ogun Central, Ogun East and Ogun West senatorial districts
Speaking in Ilaro at the end of the programme, Adeola said the initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to support small businesses and cushion economic hardship.
The senator said the programme began on Feb. 6, 2023, with 5,000 traders receiving N25,000 twice during his Ogun West senatorial campaign.
He said the initiative expanded in 2024 with N50,000 grants for 5,000 traders before increasing to N75,000 for beneficiaries across Ogun’s three senatorial districts.
Adeola, the governorship candidate of the APC in the state, noted that the “Oloja Yayi” had become a statewide intervention for market women and men, promising its continuation beyond 2027.
He said he had facilitated 43 modern markets and related projects in three and a half years, with Ogun West receiving the highest number.
According to him, two ultra-modern markets are under construction in Isaga-Orile, Abeokuta North, and Panseke, Abeokuta South, for Ogun Central.
The senator also said he facilitated 10 solar-powered boreholes in markets across Ogun West to improve access to potable water.
He added that solar streetlights had been installed in 20 major markets to enhance security and extend trading hours.
“I also installed solar street lights in 20 major markets across Ogun West, with each market getting at least 20 poles.
“The aim is to extend trading hours and improve security,” he said.
Adeola said beneficiary selection was transparent, urging recipients to invest the grants prudently to expand their businesses and improve livelihoods.
He assured traders yet to benefit that future editions would accommodate more participants across the state.
Mrs Temitope Adeola, wife of the senator, urged beneficiaries to use the grants strictly for business development.
She said the scheme was designed to ease traders’ financial burdens and improve access to business capital, not for political patronage.
