By Abimbola Joseph
CITIZENS COMPASS— The Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government, Lagos State, Mr Adedayo Ladega, on Tuesday empowered 2,500 residents with essential tools.
Ladega made the promise while rendering his account of stewardship during a mega empowerment programme to commemorate his 100 days in office at the musical village in Ikorodu area, Lagos.
The Citizens Compass reports that Ladega was among the newly inaugurated 57 council chairmen in Lagos State.
He said the empowerment programme was inline with the Renew Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu in alleviating the suffering of people in the grassroots
The essential tools distributed includes: Welding machine, Mini Tractors, Hair drying machine and washing basins, Tailoring machine, Horizontal freezer, Grinding machine and Catering materials among others.
“My plans are very simple, my mission for Ikorodu is to reach greater heights and make it become a city, our work is inline with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Beneficiaries are selected on the basis of their need through a selected committee who went round the wards to select and screen them,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Femi Pedro, former Deputy Governor of Lagos state and Governor Advisory Council (GAC) member commended the council chairman for the empowerment adding that it would torch the lives of people in the grassroots positively.
Pedro said that since President Bola Tinubu has taken over the mantle of leadership in Nigeria, the internal revenue of the country has increased which reflects more dividends of democracy to the citizens.
In his goodwill message, Mr Kaoli Olusanya, a member of Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) appealed to the beneficiaries not to sell the facilities adding that it was meant to alleviate poverty in the society.
Olusanya stressed that the empowerment programme was part of the yield of removal of fuel subsidy which has increased the monthly allocation to all the local councils.
In her remarks, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman Diaspora Commission, commended the council chairman for the programme which she said he did on behalf of All Progressive Congress(APC) party to bring the dividend of democracy to the people.
In his goodwill message, Ex.Sen.Musiliu Obanikoro, and GAC member urged the Federal Government to pump in more money into the local government because poverty was all over adding that this empowerment is the best a society can do to itself.
Obanikoro said Ikorodu has been in the forefront of industrial development in the past and the way to go back to that is to develop the grassroots through an empowerment programme such as this.
Also speaking at the event, the traditional ruler, Oba Kabiru Shotobi (Ayangburen of Ikorodu) urged residents to ensure they get their Permanent Voters Card(PVC) to vote APC back to power in 2027 and insisted that the next Lagos governor must come from Ikorodu.
Also, Dr Nurudeen Agbaje, Senior Special Adviser to Gov. Sanwo-Olu on Rural Development, urged the chairman to conduct a survey to know those who actually need the tools and advised the beneficiaries to make judicious use of them .
Agbaje said that the Lagos state government has initiated different apps where residents can access loans urging them to explore the opportunities and also the Nigeria Education Student Loan (NELFUND) established by FG for students .
Beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the chairman and promised to ensure that the tools would be used to feed their families and for self-reliance and for the benefit of Ikorodu development.
