No fewer than 10,000 market women and men across Ogun State have benefited from the 5th edition of the “Oloja Yayi” Market Support Fund facilitated by Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola in direct cash grants disbursed in three days.
The statewide empowerment, done in partnership with the National Productivity Centre was held from Wednesday July 29 to Friday July 31, 2026.
Ogun Central got 3,000 beneficiaries at the empowerment programme held at the Ake Pavilion, Abeokuta on July 29, Ogun East held its own in Ijebu Ode on July 30, while Ogun West concluded the exercise on Friday, July 31, at the Asade Agunloye Pavilion, Ilaro with 4,000 beneficiaries. Each trader received N75,000 in non-refundable grants.
Speaking in Ilaro on Friday, Senator Adeola, who is representing Ogun West Senatorial District at the National Assembly and Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, said the programme was in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to stimulate micro and small businesses, as well as cushioning the effects of economic reforms on vulnerable Nigerians.
The Senator traced the origin of “Oloja Yayi” to February 6, 2023, during his senatorial campaign in Ogun West, when 5,000 traders received N25,000 each twice.
He added that the initiative was scaled up on January 28, 2024, when 5,000 traders got N50,000 each.
He stated further that at the 4th edition held on April 27, 2025, the grant was increased to N75,000 for 5,000 beneficiaries, with traders from Ogun East and Ogun Central also included following appeals.
Sen. Adeola declared that “Oloja Yayi is now a state-wide programme for all Ogun market men and women”.
He informed the gathering that he has facilitated 43 modern markets and ancillary projects in the last three and half years, with Ogun West as the major beneficiary.
These projects, according to him, include 2 lock-up and 3 open shops in Lusada, Agosasa, Ijoun, Igbo Aje Ilaro, Sayedero, Ilobi-Erinja, Obada, Ilara and TT Dada markets.
He added that two ultra-modern markets are also ongoing in Isaga-Orile, Abeokuta North and Panseke in Abeokuta South for Ogun Central.
To improve welfare in markets, the Senator disclosed that he facilitated 10 solar-powered boreholes across Ogun West, with one borehole in two markets per LGA. Markets covered include Ilaro, Owode, Ayetoro, Oja Odan, Ipokia, Tube, Imeko, Oba Titi Dada Ota and Lusada.
“I also installed solar street lights in 20 major markets across Ogun West, with each market getting at least 20 poles. Beneficiary markets include TT Dada, Lusada, Atan, Owode, Tube, Koko, Sayedero, Ijoun, Ayetoro, Imeko, Ilara, Iwoye, Obada, Sabo Owode, Ijoko, Agosasa, Ado-Odo and Igbo Aje, Ilaro. The aim is to extend trading hours and improve security”, he pointed out.
He stressed that there is no favoritism in beneficiary selection and that the programme is open to all residents, urging the beneficiaries to invest the grants in their businesses to grow profits and improve living standards.
While assuring those not captured now will benefit in future editions, Adeola promised that the “Oloja Yayi” programme will continue after 2027 as a flagship programme of his administration.
The Senator congratulated all 10,000 beneficiaries across the three districts and reaffirmed his commitment to complementing federal and state efforts to grow the economy.
“Our market women and men are critical to economic growth, poverty reduction and national development,” he submitted.
Addressing market women and men earlier, wife of the senator, Mrs. Temitope Adeola, urged the traders to invest the grants for the purpose it was set up for.
She said the scheme was not to canvass for votes, but to ameliorate the sufferings of the traders and remove bottlenecks from accessing the microcredit loan from banks.