Philantropist constructs 5,000 capacity five-chamber ponds to support fish farmers

*Again, gives interest-free loans to indigent persons

A Nigerian-American philanthropist and Chairman of Silicon Valley Nigeria Economic Development (SV-NED), Chief Temitope Ajayi has empowered indigent Lekki residents and youths to ease unemployment and alleviate poverty.

The social intervention initiative, the second in the series post-EndSARS/Police brutality protests, cut across different ethnic groups and religious beliefs.

To assist fish farmers, Ajayi constructed a 5, 000 capacity, 5-chamber fish ponds and hatcheries with a standby power generating set and engaged five professional fish farmers to manage the project.

She also gave out the second tranche of interest-free loans worth N10.5million to indigents persons and victims of the EndSARS protest in Lekki, Lagos.

Speaking at the event, Ajayi said: “It is good to have a dream and vision, but only God makes these come through, it is good to be surrounded by good people, it is my boundless joy to support and care for the downtrodden in the society.”

She stated that the core values of SV-NED include mentorship, entrepreneurship training, and ecosystem economic strategy.

When asked what inspired her action towards citizens empowerment and social intervention, she said, “As a mother and a Nigerian, my heart bleeds when I see people suffer, especially the indigent and unemployed youths that participated in the EndSARS protests at the Lekki tollgate. “Initially when we started the support scheme, most people said the beneficiaries were going to abscond with the money, but I was never bothered nor discouraged, I was determined to put smiles on the faces of the unemployed youths and the women in Nigeria.”

The empowerment facility and items include disbursement of N40, 000 interest-free loans, with over one hundred fifty kilograms of bags of rice, hundreds of kegs of vegetable and palm oil, thousands of packs of instant noodles and spaghetti, bags of wheat and semolina, carbonated drinks, table water, dairy products, among others.

The President/CEO of SV-NED Inc. and Youth Advocate, Ms. Denise Ajayi Williams also donated a huge sum of money to support youth employment. She advised the younger generation to rediscover, explore, and maximize their hidden talents and potentials.

To support the project, President/Founder Global Connection for Women Foundations (GC4W), Dr. Lilian Ajayi-Ore also provided funds to empower Nigerian women.

Ajayi-Ore restated her commitment to human capital development and self-actualization.

She charged the beneficiaries to be hardworking, resilient, and truthful in their daily business transactions.

Another donor and The Chief Executive Officer, Master Plan Finance and Support Partner, Mr. Abiodun Baruwa commended the beneficiaries for judiciously use of the loan to support themselves and their families.

He reiterated the plan by the donors to continue supporting Nigerians to lift them out of hardships.

Baruwa urged other well-meaning Nigerians in the Diaspora to emulate their gesture as this will cushion the effect of economic hardship and poverty in the country.

He said Nigeria will be a better country if the government can support the citizens, especially the young entrepreneurs by providing an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and create a platform for wealth creation and redistribution.

A beneficiary, Arnold Kenfack, who was once brutalised by the disbanded Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS), said he got involved in the protest due to previous brutal treatments in the hands of the police.

Kenfack appreciated the kind gesture extended to him as he now earns N7,000 daily through sales of indomie noodles.

“Mama has been a great support system to me and my family, I have learned not to depend on government and people around me, but to focus on working hard to fend for myself,” he said.

Another beneficiary, Mrs. Mary Kolawole, a homeless mother of three, expressed gratitude over her new lease of life, as she has started a business that carter to her needs.

She appealed to more rich individuals and corporate organisations to help the less privileged to lower the crime rate and reduce poverty.