Councillor Empowers 800 Vulnerable Lagos Residents, Distributes Cash Items Worth N10m

By Adeyemi Adeleye

Prince Taiwo Oyekan, Deputy Leader, Lagos Island Local Government Legislative Council, has called on Nigerians with means, to support the needy and  vulnerable in their various communities.

Oyekan made the call while speaking at an empowerment programme he organised for vulnerable residents of the local government  area.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN)reports that cash ,food items ,sewing machines and other empowerment items ,were distributed to widows,elderlies and other vulnerable people at the programme.

Oyekan, representing Ward C1 , said that  he organised the programme to complement government’s efforts  at mitigating the effects of economic hardship at the grassroots.

“I had to save to come up with this  economic empowerment programme because of the hardship in the economy at the moment.

” I had  been thinking of how to give back to the community and to our people before we came up with this We have given out sewing machines, bags of rice and cash to the people.

“This is our own way of supporting what Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, have been doing to alleviate the sufferings of the people.

“This is funded by me. I saved  from my impress and salary as the councillor to give back to the people.

“We have spent over N10million to carry our this mega economic empowerment,” Oyekan said.

The legislator said  that he personally went round to select  the beneficiaries from  the various communities in the council area.

Oyekan, who noted that he had been empowering his constituents since 2017, urged the  latest  beneficiaries to make good use of the gesture.

Speaking ,Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos, who was represented by the Head of White Cap Chiefs, Chief Abdul-lateef Aderibigbe-Ajose, said with the programme,the  councillor  had followed the foot steps of his father, late Oba Adeyinka Oyekan, who was also a philanthropist.

Akiolu advised the beneficiaries to use the items judiciously to create wealth for themselves.

Also speaking, the Lagos State APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Mayegun Moshood, noted that the party was proud of the gesture of Oyekan .

Describing the gesture as great, Ojelabi said that the councillor had keyed into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

One of the beneficiaries, Alhaja Wulemotu Musa, who prayed for the council legislator, said what she got would help  her at  Ramadan.

“We can’t have this  without saying prayers for the giver. As we eat and feed others, we shall continue to pray for him,” Musa said.

Also speaking, Alhaji Shewu Sanusi-Aka, another beneficiary, also  said that the empowerment items would help him a lot.

Sanusi-Aka said: “This is very fantastic, the Prince has been doing well  and God will continue to help him.

“The last time he did this, I was given  reading glasses and medicine free. He has done a lot for many people..My advice for him is to continue and good will follow him.

Another beneficiary ,Mr Yisa Giwa, also applauded Oyekan, for the gesture saying it  would go a long way to alleviate  sufferings and hardship in the area.

A  beneficiary of  sewing machine, Ms Shakeerat Muhammad from Isale-Eko community, applauded the councillor, saying that the machine would boost  her income and help her family. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Buhari Bolaji