Oyo minority leader, Alarape empowers 100 women with cash

No fewer than 100 women from the Atiba State Constituency, Oyo state were on Thursday presented cash assistance to boost their small-scale businesses.

The event, had in attendance, party leaders, party executives, faithfuls and constituents.

Speaking at the ‘Business Women Empowerment Programme’, which was held at Equilibrium Resorts, Ojongbodu in Oyo town, the minority leader, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Asimiyu ‘Niran Alarape said the gesture was in fulfillment of his personal commitment to give back to society and the fulfilment of his campaign promises to affect the lives of the women in the constituency positively. He added that the donation was part of his programmes aimed at empowering and improving the socio-economic development of his  people.

According to him, “I always want to give back to people. During my campaigns, l promised to carry women along. If  you empower women, you have empowered households, because in  traditional Yoruba enclave, it is the women that run the show, that is the truth. They are very industrious with little money. I know my experience while I was growing up and when I was going to school. So I know what transpired, with the meager income from my mother; I was able to go to school.

“Someone made a testimony some few days ago that while she wanted to sit for her final exams that her mother had to sell her goat to pay for the WAEC fee.  If you get to Ilora Baptist Grammar School now,  that  lady built a hall in the name of  the  mother. The mother is still living. She honoured her mother when she is  alive, not when she’s dead; it is indelible .

 “And as a result, I know what my mother went through  to see me through my education and the preponderant  number of women, when talking about population, they  are more and most of them are more reliable”, the APC lawmaker said.

The former speaker emphasized that the gesture was beyond party affairs as  beneficiaries were also drawn from other groups, associations in the constituency.

“At least  100 people were empowered and we did not limit the gesture to our party members alone , because apart from party  people, we have a lot of groups within the constituency that contributed to the success of our party and you know we are still going back to them. So, if we do not curry their favour now by extending dividends to them, it would  be difficult for us to go back to them, we have to start by now”, Alarape explained.

Also speaking at the event, one of the prominent APC leaders in Oyo state, Chief SM Akindele lauded the lawmaker for the  gesture, assuring those who had yet to benefit that they too would have a bite of the gesture.

 

“Alarape has the knowledge of our problems and he has been addressing them”.

Earlier, in his own remarks, the Senatorial leader, Chief Akin Ojebode enjoined members of the APC to remain committed to the party. He, however urged them to support and cooperate with  the lawmaker.

“in six months , our representatives are already sowing the seeds and giving back to the society”, he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Rasheed Saidat expressed appreciation to Alarape for supporting their businesses.

“We are very grateful, because we never expect such at this time, but Honourable ‘Enimoju ogun’ has surprised us and we will continue to pray for him”.