The Iyaloja General of Oyo state, Princess Folashade Abeo and her team, stormed the ancient city of Oyo town to a rousing welcome on Thursday for her ongoing empowerment program to over 500 market traders and artisans.
Princess Abeo, who arrived at her hometown in the morning, was honorably received by Oke Oyo and Isalẹ Oyo comprises of the 4 Local Government Areas of Oyo Zone, including several clusters of market traders, artisans among others who were delighted with their demonstration of solidarity with her empowerment initiative and the distribution of cash palliatives in Oyo Alaafin.
Abeo, who was launching her empowerment program in the town for the first time since her installation by late Alaafin Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and other royal fathers in the state, as the Iyaloja General of Oyo state, visited several places including the Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Akinade Yusuff Layinka 1, the Alago-oja of Ago-Oja, Oba Alhaji Abdul Ganiyu Busari Ajiboye and Fatokun Morakinyo Jayeola Oba Edu, after being welcome by over 1000 traders and ARTISANS in the four Local Government areas at Akesan market.
The philanthropic gesture aimed at empowering the market traders and artisans to be economically independent most especially to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal, included the distribution of grinding machines, generating sets and sewing machines, dryers among others.
The Iyaloja General also doled out N10,000 each to market traders and artisans as a Christmas bonus to complement the efforts of Oyo state government in improving the lives of people, as well as in fulfillment of her promises in changing the market narrative and engaging the traders into useful ventures.
Addressing newsmen after the empowerment, Princess Abeo said that the gesture was borne out of her desire to leverage the market traders from the current economic hardship being faced.
“ In order to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal, we are giving market traders cash help as well as grinders, generators, dryers, and sewing machines today.
““I urge you to use these altruistic items in order to be self-reliant and to improve your standard of living and that of your family members,” she said.
The Iyaloja General, who acknowledged the significance of the empowerment initiative during the holiday season, revealed that many small business owners are currently finding it difficult to sustain livelihood, let alone celebrate the holiday season, as a result of the challenging economic downturn.
She said aside the philanthropic gesture, she has also assisted many people who are not traders or artisans in order to enable them to become self-reliant and to contribute their quota to the development of the state at large.
One of the recipients praised Princess Abeo for the gesture and promised her that they will always be there for her.
In her expression of gratitude, the Iyaloja Afijio, Chief Mrs Omonike Ogungbile, commended the Iyaloja General for having a beneficial impact on the market traders in her town and called for its sustenance.
She called on the market traders and artisans in the town to continue supporting their own daughter as the Iyaloja General of Oyo state, stating that they had long anticipated her empowerment train to arrive in Oyo town.
Other market traders and traditional chieftains in attendance include Mr, Ojewale Tajudeen, Association’s secretary, Commodity Oyo mererin; Baale Akeetan, Chief Jimoh Oyeleye, Odofin Akeetan, Chief Basiru Badmus; Oloye Balogun Moje, Chief Adeleke Balogun; Alagba Sule Ogo, Alaga Onisu ni Sabo, Mr Taiwo Wasiu Oloba, Sabo Market Secretary; Alhaja Romoke Plastic, Chairman Onike Oyo zone and Iyaafin Bintu Ibrahim, Head of Pepper sellers ni Sabo.
Also, Chairman Herbal medicine Sabo, Dr. Ogunmodede; Chairman Market traders Oyo East, Chief Elerumoke Rafiu; Chairman Market traders Atiba, Alhaji Taoreed Olayiwola; Chairman Market traders Oyo West, Alhaji Olaiya Shared; Iyaloja Oja Ajegunle; Alhaja Ona aka; Mr Omoniyi Adeleke, Representative for Oyo Supplier; Mr Lasisi Mustapha, Representative of market leaders, Oja Ibadan; Iyaafin Risikat Muritala, Representative of market traders, Sabo; Iyaafin Aderinto, Head of Yam seller, Iyaafin Larinre Ayinke, Chairman’s representative Eleekara, Mr Adewuyi, Mr Lekan Ojedokun, Secretary, Oja Elekaara; Mrs Sherifat Alonge, Representative Oloja Jobele; Iyaafin Iyabo Oyebamiji, Iyaloja Ilu Aje and host of others.
