As a show of responsive legislative representation that has already sparked jubilation across Eruwa, the Honourable Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, has empowered over 500 members of his constituency with financial support.
The event, which took place at the DEC Event Centre, along Lanlate-Eruwa road on Wednesday, July 17, saw a multitude of constituents gathered at a Town hall meeting to receive the much needed support from Ogundoyin.
300 artisans, traders and farmers were given N50,000 each to boost their businesses, 100 students got N20,000 each as bursary while 110 youths and some community members received N25,000 each as a token aimed at alleviating immediate financial burdens and supporting various personal, business, academic, and family needs.
At the event, 300 beneficiaries which include artisans, traders, and farmers were given N50,000 each to boost their businesses while over 200 persons comprising students, youths, members of his political party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and Eruwa community received ₦20, 000 and ₦25, 000 respectively.
Ogundoyin, who acknowledged that the program was long overdue as part of his agendar for his people however, appealed to his constituents to continue to support the present Seyi Makinde led administration in the state, assuring them that all ongoing projects in Ibarapa zone will be completed in due and reasonable time.
Speaking at the event, Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin expressed his determination and unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life of the people of Eruwa through targeted interventions and community-focused projects.
He emphasized the importance of empowerment initiatives in promoting grassroots development and creating sustainable livelihoods within the constituency.
The empowerment program received widespread commendation from beneficiaries who expressed gratitude to the Speaker for his responsive representation and approach to governance as well as steadfast support for his constituency.
While commending the state governor, Seyi Makinde, for his giant strides in changing the narrative of governance in Nigeria through pragmatic leadership, equally expressed his deep appreciation to the people of Ibarapa East Local Government for their support over the years since joining the political fray, he attributed his success to the almighty God and the people of the constituency.
Reaffirming his commitment to the development of his constituency in Ibarapa East, Ogundoyin, who is the Chairman, Nigeria Conference of Speakers of State Legislature, disclosed that he has been contributing to the development of his constituency in personal capacity with laudable projects such as construction of a maternity centre, mosque for Muslim community, secretariat for Eruwa Youth Movement and blocks of classrooms in Lanlate and Eruwa even before his emergence as member of the state assembly.
The two term Speaker of Oyo state Assembly who stressed the importance of collaborative efforts used the opportunity to call on privileged sons and daughters of Ibarapaland and Oyo State by extension regardless of political affiliation to join hands with political office holders to champion the development of the geopolitical zone and the state as a whole.
Stakeholders, top government functionaries present at the event lauded Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin’s dedication to grassroots empowerment, describing the initiative as a significant step towards socioeconomic advancement in Eruwa and its environs.
While addressing issues bothering on security in the state, the Executive Assistant on Security Matters to Oyo state Governor, Retired Commissioner of Police, Sunday Odukoya, applauded the Speaker for organizing the programme, noting that it will go a long way in creating cohesion and sense of belonging in Ibarapa East and keep the constituents abreast of government activities.
He maintain that Oyo State under Governor Makinde is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria, owing to the commitment of the governor and the state House of Assembly under the leadership of Ogundoyin stressing that the priority given to the security by the state government led to the establishment and recruitment of 1,500 of Oyo State Security Network codenamed Amotekun, provision of patrol vehicles to the Nigeria Police Force and other sister agencies to ensure effective community policing system in the state.
While calling on the traditional leaders in Ibarapa to join the government in fighting kidnapping and illegal mining, Odukoya said that Governor Seyi Makinde has played a vital role to ensure that the issue of farmers/herders clash is laid to rest especially in Igangan and iganna and charged the people to support the government by providing timely and genuine information that will enable security agencies to address security challenges proactively.
Commissioner for Public Works and Transport, Prof. Dahud Sangodoyin represented by Engr. Falade said that the governor has outlined all roads linked geo-political zones in the state for construction for economic prosperity of the state, assuring that the Ido-Eruwa road will be completed soon.
He said that rehabilitation of inner roads in the constituency will soon commence, explaining that all processes to mobilize the contractor have been concluded week while clarifying that no land in the Farm Estate has been allocated to anyone as speculatively insinuated in some news reports in some section of the media.
Director-General, Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), Dr. Debo Akande, who was represented at the event, assured that fund for the commencement of Eruwa Farm Estate has been approved by the state governor noting that works at Fasola Farm Estate has reached 90 percent, while commencement of work at the Eruwa Farm Estate will be launched next week.
Provost, Oyo State College of Nursing Sciences and representative of Commissioner for education also appreciated the Speaker for the event, listed various developmental projects attracted to Ibarapa by the state governor and assured that efforts are underway to establish the institution in Eruwa while enlightening aspiring nursing students on subjects to focus on for good grades in order to be able to gain admission.
Ibarapa born Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Miss Wasilat Adegoke, ok her brief remarks, commended Ogundoyin for the giant strides and commitment to his constituency saying that the significance of the town hall meeting also afford participants the opportunity to familiarize with sons and daughters of Ibarapa East Local Government and Ibarapaland as a whole.
The youthful Commissioner said that it is an avenue to give account of stewardship to the people they are representing at the state level.
Hon. Adegoke urged the people to continue to support the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde to be able to continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy.
The event was attended by members of the State Assembly, traditional rulers, religious and political leaders, leadership of Lanlate Elders Council, Eruwa Elders Council, market men and women, artisans and students across the constituency among others.