Oseni empowers Ibadan traders with N50m grant, rallies support for Tinubu

The All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Oyo South, Honourable Aderemi Oseni, on Friday extended his grassroots empowerment drive to the Agbeni Amunigun Traders Association, presenting a ₦50 million business grant to support traders across the market in Ibadan North-West and Ibadan South-West Local Government Areas of Oyo State.

Oseni, who represents Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, also announced an additional ₦5 million donation towards the completion of the association’s secretariat and pledged to install solar-powered streetlights within the market to enhance security and create a more conducive environment for commercial activities.

Addressing the association’s leadership, executives and representatives from its 15 zones during an interactive session in Ibadan, the lawmaker described traders as the backbone of the local economy, assuring them of his continued commitment to initiatives that would strengthen businesses and improve livelihoods.

He also urged the traders to remain steadfast in their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that the administration’s economic reforms were beginning to yield long-term benefits despite the temporary hardship experienced by Nigerians.

“The decisions taken by President Tinubu were not easy, but they were necessary. Today, fuel queues have disappeared, states and local governments now receive higher allocations, and more resources are available for infrastructure, education, healthcare and other developmental projects, including the regular payment of salaries,” he said.

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) also cited ongoing road projects, interventions in the health sector, agricultural support programmes and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as some of the major achievements of the Tinubu administration.

According to him, the student loan scheme has eased the financial burden on thousands of Nigerian students by expanding access to tertiary education, while other economic policies are laying the foundation for sustainable national growth.

Speaking on his plans for the traders, Oseni promised that, if elected to represent Oyo South in the Senate in 2027, he would facilitate an interest-free revolving loan scheme to be jointly managed by the market leadership and a reputable microfinance bank to guarantee easy access to affordable credit for genuine traders.

“I remain committed to policies and programmes that will empower small and medium-scale businesses because traders are the engine of our economy. My priority is to create opportunities that will enable your businesses to grow and improve the welfare of your families,” he said, adding that requests presented by the association would receive prompt attention.

Earlier, the Babaloja of the market, Alhaji Abdul-Latifu Abdulganiyu; the Baale, Alhaji Muniru Oladayo; the General Chairman of the market, Alhaji Nureni Lawal; the Iyaloja’s representative, Alhaja Basirat Owolanwa; and the youth representative, Alhaji Adeyinka Basiru, commended Oseni’s empowerment initiatives, describing him as a leader who had consistently demonstrated commitment to the welfare and economic advancement of the people.

The market leaders also endorsed Oseni’s senatorial ambition and pledged their support for his 2027 bid, expressing confidence that his record of constituency development, empowerment programmes and community-focused interventions would translate into quality representation for Oyo South in the Senate.