THE All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, has empowered 3,000 market men and women in the Ogun Central Senatorial District with business grants, towards boosting their trades.

The empowerment programme, organised in partnership with the National Productivity Centre under the Renewed Hope Agenda, was targeted at improving traders’ access to capital and stimulates grassroots economic growth across the three senatorial districts.

The programme commenced at the Ogun Central Senatorial District, where beneficiaries received grants of N75, 000 each, without any repayment obligation.

Speaking at the event, Senator Adeola explained that the initiative was designed to provide direct support to market women and men by strengthening their businesses and cushioning the impact of prevailing economic challenges.

He noted that the interventions have also focused on improving market infrastructure across the state through the construction of modern markets, installation of solar-powered boreholes, and the provision of solar streetlights.

He said: “Our market women and men remain the backbone of our local economy, and supporting their businesses is critical to promoting sustainable economic growth. This grant is not a loan but a direct intervention to help beneficiaries strengthen their businesses, increase their capital and improve their livelihoods. My appeal is that every beneficiary should invest the funds wisely so they can grow their businesses and create greater prosperity for their families,” he said.

Since its inception, the YAYI Market Women and Men Support Fund continues to expand in both scale and impact, beginning with the empowerment of 5,000 traders with N25,000 grants in 2023, followed by another 5,000 beneficiaries receiving N50,000 each in 2024, and 5,000 traders benefiting from N75,000 grants during the third edition in 2025. The current edition further broadens the intervention to reach beneficiaries across all three senatorial districts of Ogun State.

In addition to the financial support, two ultra-modern markets are currently under construction at Isaga-Orile in the Abeokuta North Local Council and at Panseke in the Abeokuta South local council area, designed to boost commercial activities further and provide a modern trading infrastructure in Ogun Central.

Over the past three and a half years, Senator Adeola has facilitated the construction of 43 modern markets, as well as the installation of solar-powered boreholes and streetlights across major markets in Ogun West, thereby enhancing the trading environment and promoting economic growth.