Abiru disburses N480m grants, reaffirms results-driven leadership

Adegbayi Abimbola

Sen. Mukhail Abiru (APC, Lagos-East) on Monday reaffirmed his commitment to serving the Lagos-East Senatorial District with diligence, integrity, empathy, and results-driven leadership.

Abiru pledged the formal unveiling of 48 cooperative societies and the award of N10 million each as take-off grants to support market women, artisans, and farmers at his constituency office in Ikorodu, Lagos.

The CitizensDiary reports that the cooperative executives underwent structured training in financial management, sustainable lending and repayment systems, transparency and record-keeping, risk management, and member inclusion and accountability.

The 48 cooperative societies were facilitated by Abiru’s office and anchored by the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

“Cooperative structures remain powerful instruments for economic inclusion, allowing citizens to pool resources, access funding, build creditworthiness, and scale sustainable enterprises,” he said.

“Through this initiative, we are strengthening the grassroots economy and laying a solid foundation for inclusive growth.”

He expressed appreciation to the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), the Bank of Industry, SMEDAN, and the Federal Co-operative College, Ibadan, noting that their technical and financial support had significantly deepened the impact of the programme across Lagos East.

Abiru, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, said the fund would undergo periodic performance reviews.

He added that cooperatives that demonstrated sound governance and effective management would be rewarded with increased funding every six months.

In his remarks, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, APC Chairman in Lagos State, commended traditional leaders and applauded Abiru for demonstrating commitment and remembering “the son whom he is proud of.”

Ojelabi said the initiative was a testament to Abiru’s dedication to his constituents and urged council chairmen to key into the programme as a way to banish poverty and promote development.

He appealed to beneficiaries and residents of the constituency to reciprocate the gesture by voting for the APC in the coming elections and encouraged market executives to ensure proper monitoring of disbursement and repayment.

On security, Ojelabi urged residents to unite against crime, saying, “When you see something, say something.” He also encouraged youths to build careers in the Armed Forces or the Police, noting that the Federal Government had approved the recruitment of 20,000 personnel.

Speaking on behalf of chairmen in the district, Mr Sesan Olowa, Chairman of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government, commended Abiru for the gesture, adding that empowered SMEs would help grow the economy and reduce unemployment.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, Dr Saheed Ibikunle of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) described cooperatives as critical vehicles for financial inclusion, collective growth, access to affordable credit, and long-term economic empowerment.

Ibikunle noted that the initiative underscored Abiru’s commitment to reducing the economic pressure on families and ensuring that no one is left behind.

In his remarks, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabir Shotobi, expressed gratitude to Abiru for his empowerment programmes and for carrying traditional rulers along.

The monarch urged residents to register for their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and vote for President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid, while also advocating for Ikorodu to produce the next governor of Lagos State.

Mrs Busola Isikalu, the Iyaloja of Ikorodu, expressed profound gratitude to Abiru for the timely intervention, saying the grants would boost businesses, especially during the Yuletide season. She urged beneficiaries to use the grants judiciously and assured them that the funds would be disbursed fairly to those who truly needed them.

The event also featured the distribution of empowerment items and food packs to 12,000 vulnerable households across the 16 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the district.

Empowerment items distributed included grinding machines, deep freezers, hair dryers, sewing machines, and generators, among others, while the food packs contained rice and garri.

Beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the lawmaker and promised to use the grants to grow their businesses.

Dignitaries at the event included APC stalwarts such as Akani Seriki (Bamu), Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe, Bashorun Olorunfunmi, and all council chairmen in the Lagos-East Senatorial District.