No fewer than 3,000 market women and men from Ogun Central Senatorial District on Wednesday received N75,000 cash grants each to boost their trades at an economic empowerment programme facilitated by Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, otherwise known as Yayi.
Addressing the beneficiaries at the event held at Ake Pavilion, Alake’s Palace, Abeokuta, Senator Adeola who is representing Ogun West Senatorial District at the National Assembly and the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun for the 2027 election, said the empowerment scheme tagged ‘Oloja Yayi’ was the fifth edition starting from the first which predates his election as senator of Ogun West in 2023.
He said the programme is designed to complement the economic reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He described it as a micro-financing scheme, in partnership with the National Productivity Centre, aimed at boosting micro and small businesses and cushioning the effects of economic downturn on vulnerable traders.
The Senator recalled that the initiative began on February 6, 2023, during his senatorial campaign in Ogun West, when 5,000 traders received N25,000 each, noting that at the time, the only government support available was Governor Dapo Abiodun’s “Oko Owo Dapo” and the federal “Trader Monie”.
According to him, “without these interventions, many traders would have been at the mercy of loan sharks”.
Sen. Adeola added that after his election as a senator in 2023, he institutionalized the support. “On January 28, 2024, another 5,000 traders from the 5 LGAs of Ogun West received N50,000 each. In the third edition on April 27, 2025, the grant was increased to N75,000 for 5,000 beneficiaries, with traders from Ogun East and Ogun Central also included following strong appeals from other districts”, he explained.
He noted that the 5th Edition of the empowerment programme is a grant of N75,000 from the N25,000 it started with and subsequent N50,000 and N75,000 respectively.
“With this edition now segmented by the senatorial district, Ogun Central is the first to benefit. A total number of 3,000 market women and men from Ogun Central received a grant of N75,000 each directly to phones to further boost their economic viability. The Ogun East and Ogun West editions are expected to follow soon”, the senator stated.
Beyond cash grants, Adeola said he has facilitated major market infrastructure to improve trading conditions, disclosing that in the last three and half years, 43 modern markets have been constructed across Ogun West, including lock-up shops and open shops in Lusada, Agosasa, Ijoun, Igbo Aje Ilaro, Sayedero, Ilobi, Obada, Ilara and T.T Dada markets.
“To address water and power challenges, I facilitated the installation of 10 solar-powered boreholes across major markets in Ogun West, with one borehole in two markets per LGA. I also installed solar street lights in 20 markets, with each market receiving at least 20 poles to extend trading hours and improve security”, he said.
Specific to Ogun Central, the Senator have nine market related projects including construction of ultra modern markets at Osiele, Odeda LGA, Obada Oko, Ewekoro LGA, Panseke, Abeokuta South LGA, Siun, Obafemi Owode LGA, Ishaga-Orile, Abeokuta North LGA, installation of 2000 Solar Light in all major markets in Ogun Central and construction of motorized and solar power boreholes in all major markets in Ogun Central.
Senator Adeola disclosed that he is currently facilitating the construction of two ultra-modern markets in Isaga-Orile, Abeokuta North LGA and Panseke, Abeokuta South LGA, saying both projects will be delivered in the next few months to serve traders in Ogun Central.
He, however, emphasized that the selection process is free of favoritism and open to all residents of the state.
He urged all beneficiaries to judiciously use the grants to grow their businesses rather than divert them.
“Well invested, the grants will ultimately yield increase and profits for your businesses to improve their standard of living,” he said.
Adeola reaffirmes his commitment to continue the programme beyond 2027, saying the goal is to better the lots of the people.
He congratulated the Ogun Central beneficiaries and expressed optimism that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu and the support initiatives of Governor Abiodun will continue to drive economic growth and prosperity in Ogun State.
In their respective remarks, the Secretary to the Ogun State Government and the former Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Tokunbo Talabi and Mrs Titi Oseni, hailed the senator for facilitating various empowerment programmes and infrastructure projects not only tro Ogun West, but two senatorial districts in the state.
They commended him for complementing the socioeconomic development programmes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Dapo Abiodun in Ogun State.
