Ikorodu’s federal House of Representatives member, Hon Babajimi Benson on Saturday, August 10th, 2018 put smiles on the faces of market men and women across Ikorodu Division with financial grant to the tune of Three Million Naira Only.
It would be recalled that, the handsome and unassuming federal lawmaker, in an interview with Ikorodu Oga Radio had given a hint that he would soon be lending a hand of support to market men and women within his Ikorodu federal constituency. He made this known while responding to criticisms from certain quarters that, his I-Care Food Bank, otherwise known as ‘Apo Aanu’ was a mere stomach infrastructure campaign strategy that does not guarantee a long-lasting poverty alleviation for its beneficiaries.
Hon Benson, speaking with Omo’ba ’Peju Akinyemi debunk the claim, stating that some people need immediate intervention through the food bank, to restore their hope before before they can appreciate a longer lasting empowerment. He therefore hinted that he would be launching ‘Atajere’ as an economic empowerment programme for the benefit of traders in Ikorodu division.
True to his words, Hon Jimi Benson made good his promise when he doled out a total of three million naira worth of financial empowerment to about 150 traders, drawn from markets across Ikorodu Division.
In her remarks at the presentation, the Iyaloja-General of Ikorodu Division, Alh Taofikat Allinson applauded the caring heart of Hon Jimi Benson, while assuring him that the beneficiaries will make good use of his financial support to improve the lot of both themselves and that of their loved ones. She added that, the initiative, being non-refundable is not only surprising but, is unprecedented in the history of economic empowerment by politicians in Ikorodu division.
Beneficiaries commended Hon Benson, while praying for God to replenish his purse for putting smiles on their faces.
Responding, Hon Jimi Benson stated that the empowerment programme for the market men and women was not a one-off exercise, stressing that what has been done was to launch the first phase of the scheme, promising that, many market men and women will still benefit from the subsequent phases of the scheme.