The Distinguished Lawmaker representing Ogun West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Olamilekan Adeola Yayi, CON, FCA, FCIT, FFPI, has stated that his mega empowerment programme across the Ogun State especially in Ogun West, was to reduce poverty and unemployment.
Adeola, who doubles as the Chairman, Senate Appropriations Committee, said that the empowerment was intentional and targeted to provide gainful self-employment and means of livelihood for the people.
He disclosed this on Monday 28th April, 2025, at the ongoing seven days Mega empowerment programme across the five Local Government areas of Ogun West, which was held at Customs Barracks, Idiroko, Ipokia local government.
He stressed that some of the women and youths in Ipokia Local Government, who are currently undergoing training in entrepreneurship development and skills acquisition would be empowered with equipment and start up grants and cash grants to start practicing their skills and earning their incomes.
Speaking further to the mammoth crowd in Ipokia, Aremo Dr Adeola said, “It is with great pleasure that I address you again on this occasion of what I tagged Second Town Hall Meeting/Mega Empowerment and Thank You Tour. Unlike the last edition of the programme which was centralized to Ilaro in Yewa South LGA, this edition, which involves feedback report, presentation of equipment for trained constituents and startup cash grants in Ogun West and beyond, has been decentralized to go round all the 5 LGAs of Ogun West and institutions of government working for the welfare of my people and indeed Nigerians that are resident with us”.
“As happened during the last empowerment exercise, I have facilitated the requisite training of over 20,000 youths, men and women in the area of ICT and in various skills acquisition preparatory to some of their empowerment today where participants will be going home with appropriate equipment for practicing their acquired skills and trades as well as some cash grants for their new business or to expand their trades.”
“As it is today, a solid foundation for the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR administration has been laid and we are beginning to see the first fruits of its faithful, albeit sometimes discomforting, implementation of some of its reforms. I was fully involved in the foundation laying, particularly at the legislative arm of the government. As it is, my constituents can attest to the benefit of the Renewed Hope Agenda in our senatorial district and beyond in the projects I have been able to facilitate in less than 2 years as will be presented below.”
“Going forward let me quickly give a summary report of the journey so far in less than 2 year of representation in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly. I was appointed the Chairman of the all-important Appropriations Committee of the Senate and Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence. I am also a member of eleven Senate Committees namely; Marine Transport, Ecology and Climate Change, Public Accounts, Works, Finance, Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, Health, FCT, Upstream Petroleum, Constitutional Amendment, Agriculture Colleges and Institutions, SDGs, NDDC and Agriculture Production, Services and Rural Development.”
“On the floor of the Senate, I am an active contributor to debates of motions and bills. In particular and pursuant of my some of electoral promises, I have so far presented three motions for the consideration of the Senate namely; (1.) “Motion on the Urgent Need to Suspend Restriction Order Placed on Supply of Fuel to Border Communities” (2.) “Motion on the Urgent Need for Palliative Repairs and Total Reconstruction of Lagos -Ota- Abeokuta Express Road” (3) “Motion on the Urgent Need to Address the False Allegation Against the Senate and the Presidency on the 2024 Appropriation Act by Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central)”. All the motions were passed into Resolutions of the Senate for action by the executive with the last resulting in the suspension of Senator Ningi for a month.”
“In the area of law making, I have sponsored 10 bills to the Senate namely:
(1) “Nigeria Railway Corporation Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023” (SB.9), (2) “Federal College of Geological and Cement Studies, Iselu, Yewa North, Ogun State (Establishment) Bill, 2023” (SB.109),
(3) “Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN) Act (Amendment) Bill 2023” (SB.265),
(4) “Bill for an Act to Establish Federal University of Technology, Ilaro, 2023”,
(5) “Bill for An Act to Amend National Commission for Women Act, CAP N23, LFN 2004”,
(6) “Bill for An Act to Amend the Niger Delta Development Commission Act No.6, 2000”,
(7) “Bill for An Act to Establish the Certified Pension Institute of Nigeria, 2023”,
(8) “National Institute for Border Studies, Imeko, Ogun State (Establishment) Bill” 2024,
(9) “Bill for National Energy Bill, 2024(SB.386),
(10) “Bill for Agricultural Processing Zones (Establishment), 2024, (SB.367).”
“The bill on the Chartered Institute of Accountants in Nigeria, ICAN, has passed ‘through public hearing and it’s report to the Senate for passage is being awaited while the bill on Federal College of Geological and Cement Studies Iselu, Yewa North has passed Second Reading and is ready for public hearing at the committee stage. Happily, the bill for the Upgrade of Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro to University of Technology, Ilaro has been passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives and is awaiting presidential assent to make the university a reality. Other bills are in various stages of legislative scheduling and treatment having passed first reading stage or awaiting listing.”
“In the area of infrastructural projects facilitation in the five Local Government Areas of Ogun West Senatorial District, many milestones have been reached in terms of completion of projects in the area of construction of Roads, School Buildings, ICT Centres, Healthcare Facilities, Markets, Police Stations, Town Halls, Solar Light and Supply of Transformers. As at present 272 infrastructure projects have been facilitated with over 85% completed and put to use across the length and breadth of Ogun West Senatorial District LGAs while the remaining ones are in various stages of completion. This number exclude those I have assisted in facilitating in the two other senatorial districts of Ogun State.”
“Specifically, in Ipokia LGA I have facilitated the following projects in different sectors in less than 2 years as follows:
ROAD CONSTRUCTION
Construction and Asphalting Ajegunle Township Road, Ajegunle, Ipokia (COMPLETED)
Construction and Asphalting Tube Market Road, Ipokia (COMPLETED)
Construction and Asphalting of Wema Street Idiroko, Ipokia (ONGOING)
Construction and Asphalting of Ilashe Township Road, Ipokia(COMPLETED)
Construction and Asphalting of Aferico Road Idiroko, Ipokia (COMPLETED)
Construction and Asphalting of Saint John Primary School Road Ibatefin, Ipokia (COMPLETED)
Construction and Asphalting of Itaragbo and Enu Odi Road, Ihunbo, Ipokia (ONGOING)
Construction and Asphalting of Mede Owotedo Road Ipokia (Ongoing)
Construction and Asphalting of Agosasa township road (Completed)
Construction and Asphalting of Odedina road Agosasa (Completed)
Construction and Asphalting of Oju Iroko Road, Ipokia. (COMPLETED)
Construction and Asphalting of Ilashe Okere Road. (COMPLETED)
Construction and Asphalting of Ayetoro Akojaga Road, Ipokia.(COMPLETED)
Construction and Asphalting of Ifonyintedo Township Road, Ipokia. (COMPLETED)
Construction and Asphalting Maun Community Road, Ipokia (COMPLETED)
Construction and Asphalting of Onfo Community Road, Ipokia. (COMPLETED)
IPOKIA TRANSFORMER
1. Provision of 500kva Transformer to Koko Community Ipokia (COMPLETED)
2. Provision of 500kva Transformer to Idosa Community, Ipokia (COMPLETED)
3. Provision of 500kva Transformer to Tube central CDA Ipokia (COMPLETED)
4. Provision of 500kva Transformer to Mede Orile Ajegunle CDC, Ipokia (COMPLETED)
5. Provision of 500kva Transformer to Odan Ijaye CDA, Ipokia (COMPLETED)
6. Provision of 500kva Transformer to Vatipa Community Ipokia (COMPLETED)
7. Provision of 500kva Transformer to Temitope village Ajegunle Ward Ipokia (COMPLETED)
8. Provision of 500kva Transformer to Aferiku Community Idiroko Ipokia Local Government (COMPLETED)
NEW TRANSFORMERS READY FOR COLLECTION TODAY
500/33kva for Kajola CDA, Tapa, Ipokia
500/33kva for Oseunolu CDA, Idiroko
500/33kva for Olorunsogo Comfort
500/33kva for Ahohoesa CDA
500/33kva for Igbao CDA.
PROVISION OF SOLAR LIGHT
1. Procurement and Installation of all in one solar street lights in Idiroko Township Road, Ipokia (COMPLETED)
2. Procurement and Installation of all in one solar street lights in Ipokia Township Road, Ipokia (COMPLETED)
3. Procurement and Installation of all in one solar street lights in Agosasa, Ipokia Township Road (COMPLETED)
4. Procurement and Installation of all in one solar street lights in Igbo Ogun Ipokia (COMPLETED)
5. Procurement and Installation of all in one solar street lights in Ilashe Akere Road, Ipokia (COMPLETED)
6. Procurement and Installation of all in one solar street lights in Wema bank road Idiroko Ipokia (COMPLETED)
7. Procurement and Installation of all in one solar street lights in Oju Iroko road Idiroko Ipokia (COMPLETED)
8. Procurement and Installation of all in one solar street lights in Ilashe, Alaari, Ifonyintedo road, Ipokia (COMPLETED)
9. Procurement and installation of all in one solar street lights in Idiroko to Ibatefin road, Ipokia (COMPLETED)
SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION
Construction of A block of 12 classrooms with Staff room and Library at District High School Ipokia (Completed)
Construction of A block of 12 classrooms with Staff room and Library at Ipokia local government primary school Ifonyintedo, Ipokia (Completed)
Construction of A block of 16 classroooms at Mayigi high school Ilashe Ipokia (Completed)
Construction of A block of 16 classrooms at Maun secondary school Maun, Ipokia (Completed)
Construction of A block of classrooms at Ipokia primary school Ilashe, Ipokia (Completed)
Construction of A block of classrooms at Ita Ege Primary School Ipokia (Completed)
Construction of A block of classrooms at Ojumo high school Ihunbo (Ongoing)
ICT CENTER
Construction of Ultramodern ICT center at Ikolaje Grammar School Idiroko, Ipokia (COMPLETED)
PRIMARY HEALTH CENTRE (PHC)
Construction of Agada Tube Primary Healthcare Center, Ipokia (Completed)
Construction of Ipokia Primary Healthcare Centre Ipokia (Completed)
Construction of Primary Healthcare Centre, State Hospital, Idiroko (Completed)
Construction of Alaari primary Healthcare Center, Alaari (Ongoing)
MARKET CONSTRUCTION
Construction of Ultramodern Agosasa Market, Ipokia (completed)
Construction of Ultramodern Tube Market Ipokia (Completed)
Construction of Koko Ultramodern Market Koko Ipokia (Completed)
POLICE STATION
Construction of Idiroko Police Station Idiroko, Ipokia (ONGOING)
CONSTRUCTION OF TOWNHALL
Construction of Idiroko Ultramodern Townhall Idiroko, Ipokia (COMPLETED)
Construction of Ultramodern Idosemo Townhall, Ipokia (COMPLETED)
The Scholarship and Bursary Board comprising of eminent academics and intellectuals for the senatorial district that I established for yearly awards have so far benefited 5392 with 3892 benefiting only a few days ago. The awards sum ranges from N100,000 to N200,000 for bursary and scholarship respectively. Similarly, in less than two years, I empowered 15,000 Market Women and Men with a cash grant ranging from N50,000 to N75,000 each. 2000 of this number coming from Ipokia LGA. Some are of our people in the two other senatorial district’s market also benefitted. In due course, I look forward to all members of Market Women and Men Association in the senatorial district benefiting from this financial support scheme.”
“In the area of employment at the federal levels, I have facilitated employment for over 100 constituents at the National Assembly, TETFUND, Fire Service, the Nigeria Police, FAAN, Federal Medical Centres, FRSC and other agencies. I am expecting more from other agencies in due course with their ongoing recruitment process.
But as a stop gap measure to provide gainful self-employment and means of livelihood for our people, I have embarked on the training of women and youths in entrepreneurship development, skills acquisition and today we are going to empower some of them with equipment and start up grants and others with cash grants to start practicing their skills and earning incomes.”
“The target is for gainful self-employment for youths and women irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliations in Ogun West. As a legislator of over 22 years at state and federal level, I have made it of paramount importance to ensure that as many youths and women as possible are given requisite skills and empowered to establish them in gainful self-employment. In our present situation, in addition to good education, skills of various kinds are advantages in generating income and combating rising employment and under-employment.
Towards this end, many trainings for skills acquisition, entrepreneurship development and ICT as well as empowerment with equipment are ways that I achieve effective representation. To the glory of God, tens of thousands have benefited from these programmes facilitated by me and making a modest living out of their acquired skills and trades.”
“Today, in conjunction with Federal Cooperative College, Ibadan, Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, Micheal Imodu Labour Centre, Federal College of Fishery and Marine Technology, SMEDAN, NCAM and National Productive Centre, a segment of the total number of 20,000 trained beneficiaries in their preferred vocations will be empowered with equipment and grants with the following items dedicated to Ipokia LGA beneficiaries as follows:
10 Mini Buses
37 Tricycles
50 Motor Cycles
60 Welding Machines
80 Deep Freezers
28 Generators
61 Vulcanizing Machines
107 Grinding Machines
66 Sewing Machines
12 Embroidery Machines
299 Hair Dressing Equipment
388 Agric Value Chain (Cash Grant)
61 Barbing Equipment
542 School Bags
1,428 Exercise Books
4,285 Textbooks
238 Makeup Kits
28 Catering Equipment
5 Nos 500kva Transformers
“It is my hope that many of the beneficiaries to be empowered here will soon be in the business of generating income for themselves. Let me state that beneficiaries of these training programme and empowerment were selected devoid of any partisan considerations and major stakeholders were given opportunities to nominate beneficiaries as deemed fit. We also ensured that there was even spread across all the 5 LGAs of Ogun West as what is distributed here today will be replicated in a variegated way in all the other LGAs of Ogun West and others.
I will continue to deliver effective representation as a legislator in this era of Renewed Hope Agenda as I look forward to further service for the benefit of my people, my state and nation at large. I congratulate all the beneficiaries of this programme and urge them to diligently apply the skills learnt in course of their training for their socio-economic advancement of themselves and indeed the advancement in the society. The slogan is start small and grow big. Please shun the temptation of selling empowerment equipment for quick cash that will that will end up in unproductive frivolities and misplaced priorities” Senator Adeola Yayi concluded.
