The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has empowered 3,000 market men and women in the Ogun Central Senatorial District with business grants. Each beneficiary received ₦75,000.
The empowerment programme is organised in partnership with the National Productivity Centre under the Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to strengthen small businesses, improve traders’ access to capital and stimulate grassroots economic growth across Ogun State’s three senatorial districts. It commenced at Ogun Central, where beneficiaries received the grants free of charge, with no repayment obligation.
This initiative, which is the fifth edition of the YAYI Market Women and Men Support Fund Empowerment Programme, took place on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at the Ake Pavilion, Ake Palace, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Speaking at the event, Senator Adeola explained that the initiative was designed to provide direct support to market women and men by strengthening their businesses and cushioning the impact of prevailing economic challenges.
Yayi noted that the interventions have also focused on improving market infrastructure across Ogun State through the construction of modern markets, the installation of solar-powered boreholes, and the provision of solar streetlights.
“Our market women and men remain the backbone of our local economy, and supporting their businesses is critical to promoting sustainable economic growth. This grant is not a loan but a direct intervention to help beneficiaries strengthen their businesses, increase their capital and improve their livelihoods. My appeal is that every beneficiary should invest the funds wisely so they can grow their businesses and create greater prosperity for their families,” he said.
Since its inception, the YAYI Market Women and Men Support Fund continues to expand in both scale and impact, beginning with the empowerment of 5,000 traders with ₦25,000 grants in 2023, followed by another 5,000 beneficiaries receiving ₦50,000 each in 2024, and 5,000 traders benefiting from ₦75,000 grants during the third edition in 2025. The current edition further broadens the intervention to reach beneficiaries across all three senatorial districts of Ogun State.
In addition to the financial support, two ultra-modern markets are currently under construction at Isaga-Orile in the Abeokuta North Local Government Area and at Panseke in the Abeokuta South Local Government Area. These developments are designed to boost commercial activities further and provide a modern trading infrastructure in Ogun Central.
Over the past three and a half years, Senator Adeola Yayi has facilitated the construction of 43 modern markets, as well as the installation of solar-powered boreholes and streetlights across major markets in Ogun West, thereby enhancing the trading environment and promoting economic growth.
