BY LAW IBITOYE
The Executive Chairman of Ifeloju Local Council Development Area, Hon. Olusola Michael Oniyelu has empowered residents of the LCDA with working tools, cash gifts and unveiling of several market stalls and BAO game center in Ilupeju Ekiti.
The chairman who said the empowerment was meant for his 50 year birthday held a few months ago, included : sewing machines, mattresses, spray machines, clippers, standing fans, grinding machines, chemicals, seedlings and huge amounts of money to residents of the LCDA to support their Businesses/trades on Tuesday, 10 September, 2024.
The MENARA MARKET SQUARE, venue of the empowerment was filled to capacity, as residents thronged the venue praising the chairman.
The crux of the empowerment was Commissioning of newly constructed 6 stalls, BAO GAME CENTER , renovation of over 40 kolanut stalls, construction of goat shed, all at MENARA MARKET, ILUPEJU EKITI.
The Executive Chairman reiterated his commitment to prioritizing the welfare of the good people of Ifeloju LCDA, saying he would not cease influencing more dividends of democracy to them. He said, “this empowerment was to further strengthen the relationship between me and the good people of Ifeloju LCDA. I begged all the beneficiaries not to sell what they have gotten today, utilize them well and those that were giving grinding machines, I urged you to render cheaper services to your customers because what you got free today belongs to the entire LCDA”
Giving how the beneficiaries were selected, Hon Oniyelu said they were carefully chosen from the four wards of the LCDA. He said, “four Ward Chairmen and APC Chairman, Oye Local Government were given 4 inches by 9 ft mattress, over Forty spray machines, chemicals and seedlings were given to our farmers, four persons got sewing machines, another four persons were given grinding machines, clippers, standing fans and forty persons were given cash gifts to boost their businesses .In total over one hundred households benefitted from today’s empowerment”
Assuring the residents of more empowerment programmes and good governance, Hon Oniyelu urged the residents to collate their needs, saying they would be captured in the 2025 budget. He highlighted some of the projects he executed to include: Grading of roads across the five communities that make up the LCDA, repair of moribond tractor, financial support to market women, students, farmers among others.
Giving his remarks, the Commissioner for Local Government, Hon. Folorunso Olabode commended the chairman for his unwavering commitment to serve his people. He described the empowerment programme of the Executive Chairman of Ifeloju Local Council Development Area, Ilupeju Ekiti, as massive, worthy of emulation and commendation.
The commissioner rated the chairman as one of the best in Ekiti state, Considering his people’s oriented programmes in the local Council Area. He added that the chairman’s programmes are replicas of Governor Oyebanji’s shared prosperity agenda for Ekiti residents. While calling on the beneficiaries to make good use of the materials, he charged them to support the governor for more developmental programmes.
Also, the commissioner for Information, Chief TAIWO Olatunbosun, the Coordinator for Ekiti State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (EK- RAAMP) Hon Sunday Adunmo and Special Adviser to the governor on Gender Empowerment and Mobilization, Chief (Mrs ) Kemi Olaleye commended the chairman for his exceptional leadership that had impacted the people of Ifeloju positively. The top government functionaries called for prayers and unalloyed support for the chairman to further complement the developmental programmes of Governor Oyebanji.
They commended Governor Oyebanji for not tampering with the allocation of the local Government which they said had necessitated the more developments witnessed at the grassroots.
Speaking on behalf of the Royal fathers in the LCDA, Owajumu, Oba Ogundeyi Joseph thanked the chairman for his numerous achievements in the LCDA. The monarch cautioned the beneficiaries against selling the tools, he prayed God to prosper their ventures.
The beneficiaries could not hide their joy as they praised Hon Oniyelu and appreciated Governor Oyebanji for giving them chairman that prioritized their welfare. They pledged their loyalty and unflinching support to governor Biodun Oyebanji’s second term contest.
In appreciation of giving the Association of kolanut sellers, MENARA MARKET, Ilupeju Ekiti beffiting stalls to transact their business, they presented the chairman with an award of ‘ALATUNSE OF EGBE OLOBI’
Dignitaries at the event include: Apeju of Ilupeju Ekiti, Oba David Sunday Awe AKINGBADE, the Obanla of Ilupeju Ekiti, His Highness, Sunday Ogunsola, Owatapa, Oba Makanjuola Ajaja PhD, Owajumu, Oba Ogundeyi Joseph, Olosin, Oba
APC Chairman, Oye Local Government, Mr Ogunsakin, local government chairmen, APC party leaders, Ifeloju Vice Chairman, Councillors, market women, chiefs and different group societies among others.