The Executive Chairman of Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Akindele Adunni Opeyemi, has disbursed ₦10 million in cash support to 100 residents of the council area, with each beneficiary receiving ₦100,000 to support their businesses and improve their livelihoods.

Speaking during the second edition of the cash empowerment initiative, Hon. Akindele said the programme was designed to fulfill campaign promises made to the electorate and to support residents in strengthening their vocations and businesses.

She explained that the positive impact recorded during the first edition encouraged the council to organize the second phase, noting that many beneficiaries from the earlier programme used the funds productively to grow their businesses.

According to the Chairman, the beneficiaries were drawn from different groups within the community, including the National Youth Council, persons living with disabilities, ethnic groups, market women, Community Development Committees (CDC), Community Development Associations (CDA), religious bodies such as the League of Imams and Alfas and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), traditional rulers, as well as party members.

Hon. Akindele emphasized that the purpose of the cash support was to help beneficiaries boost their businesses, vocations and other economic activities, adding that the council would also monitor the beneficiaries to ensure the funds are used for the intended purpose.

“We monitored the first edition and we will also monitor this one. We have their data and we will carry out unannounced monitoring to ensure the objective of the programme is achieved,” she said.

Also speaking, the Head of Department of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) in Mosan-Okunola LCDA, Mrs. Akintayo Funmilayo, said the programme forms part of the administration’s agenda to improve the welfare of residents and reduce poverty.

She revealed that inspections conducted after the first edition showed that many beneficiaries had expanded their businesses, expressing optimism that the new beneficiaries would also use the funds wisely.

In his remarks, the Baale of Odemuyiwa, High Chief Aina Balogun, commended the council chairman for the initiative, describing it as the first time such a cash empowerment programme was being organized in the local government since his assumption as Baale.

The Coordinator of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Mosan-Okunola branch Olowoyobiojo Muftah, also appreciated the council chairman for the gesture, noting that it was the first time such support was being extended to youths by the LCDA.

“This is the first time we are seeing such a gesture from our LCDA. We appreciate the Chairman for doing this for us. Within her few months in office, she has performed tremendously,” he said.

A community member, Mr. Victor, also praised the initiative and encouraged beneficiaries to make good use of the ₦100,000 support to grow their businesses, particularly petty traders and small-scale entrepreneurs.