Petty Traders in Badagry all smiled home yesterday as the Pioneer of RAK Development Foundation, Mr Mobolaji Ogunlende supported over 300 petty traders in Badagry with cash of ₦5m to boost their micro business
This action according Ogunlende, the Pioneer of RAK foundation was to help the traders to boost their markets after they might have spent more money during Christmas and new year festival.
According to Ogunlende, this little assistance is just for petty traders like pure water sellers, vegetable sellers, bread , pepper sellers etc that do not need much money to start a business.
“If I have power to do more than this, honestly I would have done it but please manage what I have. I am always sad when I hear that petty traders like pepper sellers, pure water sellers, bread and vegetables sellers collect goods on credit, Ogunlende said.
But with the little support I am giving out today, you can stand on your own,” he added.
Ogunlende noted that because of his principle of accountability, transparency and integrity, his foundation was among the 10 foundations selected to support the VSF (Victim Support Funds) intervention during COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to distribute food items valued ₦250m in Badagry.
“RAK Foundation was among 10 selected by the Victim Support Fund, headed by Mrs Toyosi Akerele and Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) the Chairman to distribute food items valued ₦250m in Badagry communities. This is to show that RAK Foundation has been recognised by all in Nigeria and we deserve a kudos for that,” he said.
When asked about how the 300 women that benefited from the support were selected, Ogunlende said that 70 women were selected each from the one LG and two LCDA in Badagry.
He said the 90 other women were nominated by people across the three councils to make 300, adding that each of them would receive a minimum of ₦10,000.
Ogunlende also explained that the beneficiaries list also cut across the different associations such as Market Women Association (Iyaloja’s), Traditional Heads, Council Chairmen, Councilors, CAN, Muslim Association, Women Forum’s, Association of Physically Challenged etc who gave the nomination forms to deserving petty traders in their area.
Also speaking, Mrs Risikat Padonu, the former Supervisor for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) Badagry LGA urged the beneficiaries to use the money to add value to their businesses.
According to Padonu, this is not the money that you will use to buy “Aso Ebi” or spend on any ceremony.
“Please use it to buy more goods to your wares, though it might not be plenty but it is better than nothing. We are all aware of the hardship in town, we should give kudos for the foundation for coming out this time to support the women,” she said
In his remarks, the Baale of Topo Island, Chief Oluwadami Avoseh, who represented the Akran of Badagry, Aholu Menu Toyi1, urged well-meaning Badagry indigenes to emulate the good gestures of Ogunlende.
He urged the women that benefited from the support to use the money judiciously to encourage the foundation to extend the hands to others in Badagry.
Avoseh commended Ogunlende for helping the petty traders in Badagry to grow their businesses and prayed that God will continue to protect him and his family.
Mrs Oluwakemi Sulaiman, a pepper seller said she would use the money to buy more pepper to sell.
“I always buy my goods in credit from Hausa that is selling in quantities at Ajara, later I will pay him and collect another but today, RAK Foundation has made me independent because I will no longer buy on credit. I am grateful to Ogunlende for setting us free from this curse and I pray that God will continue to bless his pocket,” she said.
Miss Oluwaseun Alaba, a pure water seller from Aradagun who received ₦10,000 commended the Foundation and promised to use the money to expand her business. According to her, I will now add bottled water and soft drinks to my wares.
During the distribution of cash to the petty traders, some youths in groups came in shouting that Ogunlende should contest the forth coming election.
Some of the dignitaries at the event includes the Aholu of Ajara Agamathen, the Aholu of Kweme Kingdom, Dr Arinola Ajoseh, the wife of former APC Deputy Chairman of Lagos State, Dr Ola Oki and wife, White Cap Chief Patrick Mobee of Badagry Kingdom, Baale Iragbo, Baale Apanukon, the market leaders, APC party chieftain, market men and women.
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