The Senator, representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Tokunbo Abiru has taken his #DoingGood Campaign to the on-going Ikorodu Division Trade Fair at the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu Campus.
A total of 20 medium and small medium scale business owners benefitted from a N100,000 Grant, sponsored by the Senator, to support their businesses, totalling N2 Million Naira Only
Ikorodu Oga Radio was reliably informed that the 20 lucky beneficiaries of the grant were selected using some parameters, which include; residency of Lagos East, possession of a business account, must be an exhibitor at the Ikorodu Division Trade Fair among other indices.
The Senator’s TACT Team stated that Senator Abiru mandated them to bring the #DoingGood campaign to exhibitors at the fair, through the grant, as a way of supporting small businesses.
Also, another 20 exhibitors were presented with 20 Business Support Book packs, containing seven (7) business related books meant to enhance the capacity of the MSME owners. The books cover subjects, ranging from Accounting, Marketing Communications, Digital Technology, Financial Management, Tax Management, Strategy among other strategic MSME related topics.
Justifying the reason for giving out the books, Enitan Olukotun, Media Aide to the Senator noted that, some business owners erroneously think that what they need to improve their business was money but, research has shown that, what many of them truly need was requisite knowledge to scale up their businesses.
The 20 lucky beneficiaries of the grant expressed shock and disbelief at the generous spirit of the distinguished Senator.
Some of the apparently happy beneficiaries spoke to Ikorodu Oga Radio and expressed their joy on the financial support.
A retiree and Printing Press owner, Alh Olaide Oduloye described Senator Abiru as a patriot.
‘With this gesture, I see our Senator as a patriot. It takes a patriot to want to support entrepreneurs with a whopping one hundred thousand naira, the way he has done. He understands the economy and knows that it is the SMEs that drives the nation’s economy. I say a big Thank You to our Senator’.
Another beneficiary and CEO of Oga Events & Productions, Mrs Rukayat Akinpelu Onabanjo noted that, ‘What Senator Tokunbo Abiru has done today is to surprise us. None of us saw this coming. When we first saw his stand, we thought it was the usual political campaign gymicks. We cannot thank the Senator enough. He is truly doing good’, she said.
Similarly, a waste recycler and gabbage bag manufacturer, Mrs Matilda Olatunji Taiwo noted that, ‘Senator Abiru has added value to our businesses with this grant. As the Chairman, Senate Committee on Industry, it shows he truly knows the challenges confronting micro manufacturers like us’.
A fashion entrepreneur, Mrs Adaobi Ngozi Owoto was full of praises to Senator Tokunbo Abiru. She promised to plough the grant into her business and expand her business horizon.
A male exhibitor and a beneficiary who is also a Student of Lagos State Polytechnic who simply gave his name as Allen thanked Senator Abiru for the gesture promising to, ‘support him in his future elections and will go out of my way to convince those who are close to me to do the same’, he promised.
