A Nigerian-American Philanthropist and Chairman of Silicon Valley-NED, Her Royal Highness, Queen Mother Temitope Ajayi has empowered the indigent Lekki residents and youths across the Lekki/Eti-Osa Environment in her efforts towards Alleviating Poverty and unemployment among the Citizenry.
The Citizen empowerment and social intervention programme is the second in the series post EndSARS/Police brutality protests. It cut across different ethnic groups and religious beliefs.
“It is good to have a dream and vision, but only God make these come through, it is good to be surrounded by good people, it is my boundless joy to support and care for the downtrodden in the society”, Ajayi said.
She outlined the core values of Silicon Valley Nigeria-America to include but not limited to mentorship, Enterprenuership training and ecosystem economic strategy.
When asked what inspired her action towards citizens empowerment and social intervention, Ajayi said “As a Mother and Nigerian, my heart bleeds when I see people suffer; especially the indigent and Unemployed youths that participated in the End SARS protests at the Lekki tollgate. “Initially when we started the support scheme, most people said the beneficiaries were going to abscond with the money but I was never bothered nor discouraged, I was determined to put smiles on the faces of the unemployed youths and the women in Nigeria.
“I’m Passionate about Supporting, Alleviating Poverty among the Less Privileged Citizens”, Ajayi told the Beneficiaries.
During the first phase of the programme, hundreds of indigent residents were issued between twenty and twenty thousand naira interest free credit facility
The empowerment support facility and items includes disbursement of forty thousand naira interest free loans, over one hundred fifty kilograms of Bags of Rice, Hundreds of Kegs of Vegetable and Palm oil, thousands of Packs of Instant nodles and Spaghetti, Bags of Wheat and Semolina, Carbonated Drinks, Table water, Diary Products and among others.
Ajayi also constructed a modern 3,500 Capacity, 5-Chamber Fish Ponds and Hatcheries to support Young Aqua-Farmers with a Standby Automatic Power Generating Set. A total of five Professional Fish farmers were engaged to manage the Fishery Project.
“We are embarking on massive modern fish rearing, hatching of fingerling and sales within the country and export to the neighboring African countries and overseas”, Ajayi emphasised.
The President/CEO of SV-NED Inc. and Forbes Business Council Member Ms. Denise Ajayi Williams also donated a huge sum of money to support youth employment. She advised the younger generation to rediscover, explore and maximize their hidden talents and potentials.
The President/Founder Global Connection for Women Foundations GC4Women and Forbes Non-profit Council Member, Dr. Lilian Ajayi-Ore also empowered Nigerian women.
Ajayi-Ore restated her commitment to human capital development and self-actualization.
She charged the beneficiaries to be hardworking, resilience and truthful in their daily business transactions.
While Speaking with Citizen NewsNG, The Chief Executive officer of Master Plan Finance and Support Partner, Mr. Abiodun Baruwa said “We are happy that they(the beneficiaries) have been able to use the money judiciously to support themselves and their families”.
He however reiterated the Team’s plan to continue to support and lift as many Nigerians out of hardships. He urged the beneficiaries to be more hardworking and resilience as they grow their businesses and trades.
Baruwa urged other well meaning Nigerians in the Diaspora to emulate the kind gesture of the Team as this will cushion the effect of economic hardship and poverty in the country.
He further stated that Nigeria will be a better country if the Government can support the citizens, especially the young entrepreneurs by providing an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and create a platform for wealth creation and redistribution. Baruwa frowned at the high level of corruption and looting of the nation’s treasury as this act will mitigate socio-economic development in the country. Baruwa charged the affluent in the society to donate more and give charity to build a better life and future for the younger generation.
A Lekki Petty Trader, Mrs. Mariam Oladi Kolawole narrated how she learnt about the support scheme which led to the transformation of her life. “While roasting corns for sale on the street along Lekki-Epe road, A neighbour, worried by the stress I go through on daily basis and the huge loss I incurred due to low patronage and
spoilage of the produce, recommended Mama Diaspora to me for assistance”.
Kolawole enrolled with the Lekki Silicon Valley-NED Cooperative after which a sum of Twenty thousand naira loan was issued to her. Subsequently, after full repayment of the initial credit facility, a sum of forty thousand naira was presented to her at the Lagos Office.
One of the Protesters against police brutality (tagged EndSARS) and misgovernance at the Lekki tollgate, Miss Anyanwu Callista Uchechi was also a beneficiary. During the first phase of the programme, a sum of Twenty thousand naira was issued to her but after remitting the total sum, an interest free loan of Forty thousand naira was presented to her to support and expand her Fast food Business.
“I make an average sales of twenty thousand naira daily and a profit of seven thousand naira, Mama Diaspora has really changed my story for good.” Uchechi said.
Uchechi eulogised the virtues of Ajayi. She however urged well meaning Nigerians to emulate her gestures as this will make positive impacts on their lives.
An Arewa group member in Lekki, Mohammed Tijani also shared his business success story with Citizen NewsNG.
As a Security Guard, he operates a mini kiosk where he sells provisions and other consumables to support his monthly salary.
“When I discovered that Mama Diaspora was
organising empowerment programme for the people in Lekki, I decided to attend, got enrolled and within a short period of time, my Bank account was credited with a sum of Twenty thousand naira to support my business”, Tijani said.
“I decided to invest in instant Noodle and carbonated drinks Supply and distribution business. At the moment, I have become a major distributor of these products, the Traders on Lekki axis now buy from me”, Tijani boasted.
By Olabode Adeyeri
@CitizenNewsNG