No fewer than 1,050 widows in Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency in Kwara State have benefited from a cash empowerment initiative worth N10.5 million to boost their trading and commercial activities.
The empowerment, held in phases across the four councils within the constituency, was put together by the constituency office of Hon. Raheem Olawuyi in Omu-Aran and was sponsored by the lawmaker.
The breakdown of the figures showed that 275 widows benefited from each of Irepodun and Isin Local Government areas with 11 wards each, while 250 widows benefited from Ekiti and Oke-Ero councils which have 10 wards each.
The total sum of N10.5 million was shared among the beneficiaries while each of the widows went home with N10, 000 to improve their businesses.
In his remarks at the closing phase of the empowerment at his constituency office in Omu-Aran, Hon Raheem Olawuyi said it was in fulfilment of his campaign promises to the electorates.
He said the empowerment initiative was a product of an in-depth research and fact-finding which revealed that just a token amount was needed by some constituents to turn around their fortunes for the better.
According to him, with that token amount added to their existing small businesses, some of the constituents can take care of the feeding, school fees and other pressing needs of their families.
“I promised during the elections that I will always check on them, interact with them to share in their pains–this is in fulfilment of that promise.
“I also did promised then that I will not wait till the time their service is needed before giving them their dues in form of the dividend of democracy for them to be self sufficient.
”We are doing all we can to do more because we know our responsibilities,” Olawuyi stated.
Olawuyi disclosed that his constituency office had also embarked on sinking of some motorised boreholes across major locations within the constutuency to ease perennial water shortages.
“Most of these boreholes project are already at 80 per cent completion stage and they were allocated based on the need and demand of respective beneficiaries,” he said.
Speaking at the occasion, Chief Iyiola Oyedepo, an APC elder in the state, lauded Olawuyi for promoting the party’s principles and ideals with the widows empowerment initiative.
“This is exactly what our party preaches and stands for as we are always focus on teaching the electorates how to fish and become something on their own.
“With this kind of initiative we are rest assured that our party members will continue to increase in manifold,” he said
Contributing, Hon. Yemi Aransiola, Chairman of the All Progressive Congress party (APC) in Irepodun Local Government Area, described the initiative as unprecedented, timely and beneficial.
“We are proud to associate with this laudable initiative and I want to implore the beneficiaries to make the judicious use of the largesse for them to be self reliant and productive.
Mrs Racheal Adebayo and Mrs Nike Mathew, both beneficiaries, in their remarks, commended Olawuyi for improving their self-esteem, sense of belonging and good governance through the initiative.