Over 100 residents of Lagun Town in Lagelu Local Government have benefited from the empowerment programme organized by the founder of Hassan Olawale Giwa (HOG) Foundation and Asiwaju Adini Musulumi of Ibadan Land, Arc (Dr.) Hassan Giwa.
The programme, which was held on Sunday, February 19th, 2023, is in line with the agenda of his Foundation to make life better for the people.
The beneficiaries, who were mostly traders, farmers, artisans and youths, received the cash benefit, sewing machines, farm tools such as sprayers, cutlass and file, handsets and power banks. They were drawn across communities in the town.
Speaking shortly after the presentation of the items to the beneficiaries, Arc Giwa, expressed concern over the present situation in the country rising from the CBN’s currency redesign policy, saying that it has become a common phenomenon in the country that a change of policy should come along with loss of lives of the innocent citizens.
The Asiwaju Adini Musulumi of Ibadan Land disclosed that it is time for Nigerians to elect leaders with human faces and unquestionable character that will think out of their comfort zone to give Nigerians a better life they deserve.
“What do we really need? What do the common people really need? We need a conducive and enabling environment to do our businesses and to live a better life. Nigerians have developed alternatives to almost everything in this country. We have solar as an alternative to electricity, we have boreholes as alternative to water, we grade our roads ourselves, we provide our security, and these are the basic responsibilities of a responsible government.
“Why do we need unnecessary loss of lives whenever there is need for a change of policy? The situation is rising inflation and worsening the poverty level, it is important to choose leaders that will believe in the common good of citizens. We need to choose leaders with human faces that can think out of the box and are ready to leave their comfort zones to attend to the plights of the common citizens.”
Arc Giwa explained that the empowerment programme is necessary this time around to support the people to cushion the effect of the CBN hardship policy.
“The empowerment programme will assist in lots of ways, the farm tools are to prepare farmers for the rainy season, the sewing machines and cash benefit is to support traders and artisans to boost their businesses, while handsets and power banks are to support the aged and youths.
“Nigerians are facing serious economic challenges, business owners are lamenting seriously, and almost every sector has shut down, especially the micro economic sector. Banks are not opening; no cash and elections are coming where it is going to sit at home for the people. So, there is a need to support our people in our own little way to address the situation.”
While advising the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the gesture extended to them, the HOG Foundation founder appealed to them to come out en masse on February 25 and March 11 and cast their votes for the candidates of Accord in the National Assembly and governorship elections and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the presidential election.
Onilagun of Lagun, Oba Najeemdeen Olalekan Bello, Alhaji L. A. Liadi and Hon. Remi Adebayo applauded the philanthropic gesture of Arc Giwa, expressing that it has gone beyond politics.
They expressed optimism that indigenes and residents of Lagun Town will always follow individuals whose primary objective is to contribute to the development of their town.
Expressing their appreciation, the beneficiaries and residents of Lagun and environs, disclosed their readiness to show solidarity by voting Accord in the National Assembly Election and Adebayo Adelabu in the March 11 governorship election, as well as Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as president.
