Rotary Club of Ikeja empowers artisans, traders with loans, tools

The Rotary Club of Ikeja at the weekend empowered residents of its adopted communities in a ceremony held at Airport Hotel, Ikeja to mark the beginning of the Rotary calendar year, which starts every July 1.

President of the club, Rtn. Olumuyiwa Fagbola, announced that the club was donating vocational tools and distributing interest-free loans of N25,000 each to 40 beneficiaries of traders in Isolo.

“In the past, we have given out the sum total of N500,000 for the interest-free loan, which they return on a quarterly basis but this year, with the support of ERITH foundation, we have moved it to N1 million,” he said.

On how the beneficiaries were chosen, the president said for the traders, their market leader identified those to benefit from the scheme and ensures the money is returned as at when due.

In his speech, the District 9110 Governor, Rtn. Jide Akeredolu, disclosed that aside the club’s empowerment, the district is embarking on a project of cervical cancer prevention as well as eradication of poverty in the society. “Cervical cancer is the second killer after breast cancer and research has shown that 26 people die every day but the good thing is that it can be prevented by vaccination.”

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, the coordinator of Nigerian Air Force Officer’s Wives Association (NAFOWA), Vocational and ICT Centre, Ikeja, said it has been a rewarding experience associating with the Rotary Club of Ikeja. “For the past five years, the club has given our graduates a new lease of life with the procurement of their startup working tools in all the department.