Faleke Partners SMEDAN To Empower Over 1000 Constituents

A member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, has empowered 1,167 Constituents in a strong collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

The event, which took place on Sunday 31st October, 2021, at Vantage Point, 12A Acme Road, Ikeja area of Lagos State, attracted a huge crowd of beneficiaries, their relations, party chieftains and supporters of the All Progressives Congress.

According to Director General of SMEDAN, who was represented by Mr. Olawale Fasanya, the Director of Policy and Planning, he said, “The five days capacity building programme facilitated by Honourable James Abiodun Faleke is a way to eradicate poverty by being self employed. The entrepreneurs went through training in different fields in order to have more knowledge about how to put their capital into productive use in their businesses and many more”.

“Meanwhile, 1167 people, who were trained by SMEDAN, will go home with cash grant facilitated by the Honourable lawmaker to start their businesses with a certificate to authenticate them as part of Hon Faleke’s empowerment programme.”

While giving the opening remarks, Yinka Fisher, one of the All Progressives Congress leaders in Ikeja Local Government welcomed everyone to the laudable occasion. He said all the participants tomorrow will be better than today if they use the grant very well. He urged them to take the opportunity seriously and utilize it well. He thanked the Honourable Federal representative for his kind gesture.

According to Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, “I  started my empowerment programme from January till date, and thousands of people have benefited”.

“Government will not relent in its efforts to provide needed support and conducive environment for the citizens to realise their desired dreams.” 

He hinted that the only way to have self employed people is by training the people on entrepreneurship; on how to be self equipped.

“Some years back, i can easily get Federal jobs for people in my constituency but things are tight now; there is no Federal job for now. Federal Government does not have vacancy again and that is why I collaborated with SMEDAN to train my people on how to be successful businessmen and women.”

“In my empowerment strides, so far I have empowered eight thousand people, seven thousand on self independent business training, 125 empowerment opportunities, 50 laptops for our students, 6500 solar poles and a mega super empowerment is coming up by December. I have touched all areas,” Faleke said.
Hon. Faleke said Nigeria will be self sufficient in food production and sustain it if Nigerians actively engage in local production of goods, which can boost the economy.

The Federal lawmaker urged the beneficiaries to engage in proper planning and execution of ideas and skills acquired for meaningful results, while advising the entrepreneurs to be committed and cultivate a saving culture in order to sustain their businesses.

Barr. Yomi Tijani, a former Secretary of Ojodu Local Council Development, Lagos State, said, “This has never happened before in Ikeja Federal Constituency. We’re lucky to have Faleke; he is an asset to our community”.

Barr. Tijani advised the participants to use the cash grant given to them wisely in order to encourage the Honourable lawmaker to do more.

Similarly, Alhaji Dally Adeokun, the APC Chairman of Ikeja Local Government, commended SMEDAN for a good collaboration with Hon. James Abiodun Faleke to train the people to be self independent, which he posited was also the measure to eradicate unemployment in our society.

“We’re grateful for his good deeds. May the good Lord continue to bless him,” Adeokun added.

“1,167 certificates will be given to those who went for the training and this has never happened before in the history of ikeja Federal Constituency.”

Some of the beneficiaries, Soetan Julius, Joshua Nneji, Balogun Abike, and Ikudeyin Olusesan, who represented them, in their goodwill messages lauded the kind gesture of Hon. Faleke and prayed he will continue to give quality representation at the Federal level.