Nigerian-American Business Consultant and the Chairman of Silicon Valley-NED Cooperative, Ibeju Lekki, Her Royal Highness Queen Mother Temitope Ajayi Mama Diaspora Speaks with the Publisher of Citizen Magazine/ Citizen NewsNG, Olabode Adeyeri in Lagos over the weekend. She shared the success story of the company in an Exclusive interview.
In what appeared to be a Test run, the Empowerment and social intervention initiative of the SV-NED has grown beyond imagination. Across the length and breath of Lagos and Nigeria. It cut across different ethnic groups and religions.
In an emotion-ladden voice, Ajayi said “I’m Passionate about Supporting, Alleviating Poverty among the Less Privileged Citizens, I was ordered by the Almighty God.
it’s a divine instruction to support and wipe tears off the faces of the downtrodden in the society”.
In the last five months, Millions of Naira have been invested in the empowerment initiative. The support facility and items includes disbursement of twenty thousand naira (N20,000) interest free loans; which qualifies a beneficiary to obtain a maximum of One hundred and sixty thousand naira (N160,000) upon repayment of previous credit facilities,
over one thousand 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, 7- 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 have embarked on massive modern fish rearing, hatching of fingerings and sales within the country and export to the neighboring African countries and overseas”, Ajayi revealed.
“Recently, We started Fish, Chicken and Snail Processing and Production for local consumption and export. These products are produced under standard hygienic condition and quality assurance parameters. Our Success story is worth sharing to encourage and inspire young Business Owners and every hardworking young adult in the country and across the world”, the International Business Consultant emphasised.
THE SUCCESS STORIES AS SHARED BY SOME OF THE BENEFICIARIES
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 Magazine/Citizen NewsNG.
As a Security Guard, he operates a mini kiosk where he sells provisions and other consumables to support his meagre 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 Noodles 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.
She however called for partnership with the Federal and State Governments and the private sector. An effort she said will reduce unemployment rate in the country.
“A collaborative mechanism will go a long way to lift many unemployed young Adults and the less privileged citizens out of poverty” Ajayi noted.
Ajayi also urged the Unemployed Youths to take up productive venture; shun any act of violence and social vice.
She also charged the Nigerian youths to make optimal use of their talents for self-development and actualization.
While collaborating Ajayi’s words , the Manager, Mr. A. Anold said “At
SV-NED Cooperative society, We have engaged, trained and empowered hundreds of indigent residents who are now successful Enterprenuers and most of these people are employers of labour in their own capacity”.
Anold called on Unemployed youths across the country to take the unique opportunity offered by the Ibeju Lekki SV-NED Cooperative Society as the company is set to employ more hardworking and dedicated job seekers.
Mrs. Shakira Olatunji, a mother of four engaged by the SV-NED Cooperative society as Marketing Manager, narrated how Ajayi brightened her world and lifted her family out of hopelessness.
“Mama Diaspora has really helped my family. She motivated and taught everyone around her how to make a living without being a liability to others. She gave me an interest free loan and trading support items to start business within the neighbourhood. Mama also provided a Mini Shop space for me within her premises; she is an Angel on earth”, Olatunji eulogised.
“Before I was introduced to Mama Diaspora by a friend, my family had accommodation problem. But when I narrated my story to her, she released one of the Mini flats in her compound to my family for use”, Olatunji recalled.
“At a point, I couldn’t pay the tuition fee of one of my children in Kwara State Polytechnic. I was so devastated that I couldn’t concentrate on the job but Mama noticed my mood, she called me into the living room and asked what the issue was. I narrated my inability to pay the school fee but to my utmost surprise, in less than one week, Mama Diaspora gave me the sum of Seventy thousand naira (N70,000) for the payment of my Son’s tuition fee. A lot of people within the Lekki neighborhood and beyond have benefited from the SV-NED Empowerment and social intervention programme. I really appreciate her uncommon kind gestures and for being a source of inspiration to others”, She concluded.