No fewer than 10,000 market women and men across Ogun State have received ₦750 million in direct cash grants under the fifth edition of the “Oloja Yayi” Market Support Fund, an empowerment initiative facilitated by Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi).
The three-day programme, organised in partnership with the National Productivity Centre, was held from July 29 to July 31 across Ogun State’s three senatorial districts, with each beneficiary receiving a non-refundable grant of ₦75,000 to support and expand their businesses.
The empowerment exercise began at the Ake Pavilion, Abeokuta, where 3,000 traders from Ogun Central received grants on July 29. Another 3,000 beneficiaries from Ogun East were supported in Ijebu Ode on July 30, while the programme concluded at the Asade Agunloye Pavilion, Ilaro, on July 31, where 4,000 traders from Ogun West received their grants.
Speaking at the closing ceremony in Ilaro, Senator Adeola, who represents Ogun West Senatorial District and serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, said the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to support micro and small businesses while cushioning the effects of ongoing economic reforms.
The senator recalled that the “Oloja Yayi” initiative was launched on February 6, 2023, during his senatorial campaign in Ogun West, when 5,000 traders received ₦25,000 each in two phases.
According to him, the programme expanded in January 2024, with another 5,000 traders receiving ₦50,000 each before the grant increased to ₦75,000 during the fourth edition in April 2025, when beneficiaries from Ogun Central and Ogun East were included for the first time.
Declaring the programme officially statewide, Adeola said the initiative would continue to support traders across all parts of Ogun State.
“Oloja Yayi is now a statewide programme for all Ogun market women and men,” he said.
The lawmaker also highlighted several infrastructure projects facilitated across markets in the state, revealing that he had attracted 43 modern markets and related projects within the last three and a half years.
He listed completed market projects in Lusada, Agosasa, Ijoun, Igbo Aje Ilaro, Sayedero, Ilobi-Erinja, Obada, Ilara and TT Dada markets in Ogun West, while two ultra-modern markets are currently under construction at Isaga-Orile in Abeokuta North and Panseke in Abeokuta South.
Adeola further disclosed that he facilitated the installation of 10 solar-powered boreholes across markets in Ogun West and solar streetlights in 20 major markets to improve access to water, enhance security and extend trading hours.
He stressed that beneficiaries were selected without political, religious or ethnic considerations and urged them to invest the grants wisely to grow their businesses and improve their livelihoods.
The senator also assured traders who were not captured in the current phase that they would benefit in future editions, promising that the “Oloja Yayi” programme would continue beyond 2027.
“Our market women and men are critical to economic growth, poverty reduction and national development,” he said.
Earlier, Senator Adeola’s wife, Mrs. Temitope Adeola, urged beneficiaries to use the grants for their intended purpose, explaining that the intervention was designed to strengthen small businesses and reduce dependence on bank loans rather than serve as a political campaign tool.
