29th November, 2010
It was joy in Ikorodu Central Local Council Development Area, LCDA of Lagos State, South West Nigeria when the Lagos Commissioner for Rural Development, Prince Lanre Balogun empowered some indigenes of the area.
The beneficiaries were given motorcycles, deep freezers, hair dryers, sewing machines, grinding machines and others.
According to Balogun, the empowerment programme had already been launched in five out of the six LCDAs that make up the old Ikorodu Local Government, adding that the launch of the programme in Ikorodu Central was a testimony to his desire to ensure that his people enjoyed the dividends of democracy.
“The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN is the only party in Lagos State that touches the lives of the people. Lots of people will be empowered through this programme.
“The share is for those who attend party meetings; such people will be empowered.  We give them freezers, okada, tricycles, sewing machines and others. Many more people will still benefit. We also have free computer programme for our youths,†he said.
The commissioner, however, urged the people to ensure that they voted at the coming elections and ensured that their votes counted.
An ACN chieftain in Ikorodu, Alhaji Badru Enifeni said the empowerment programme would help to alleviate poverty, urging the beneficiaries to make proper use of the equipment given to them.
According to Mrs Iyabo Oshilaja, a leader in the area, the commissioner started the empowerment programme three years ago and it had impacted in the lives of Ikorodu dwellers.
As for Mrs. Oluseyi Babalola, a woman leader in Ikorodu, the empowerment programme was being lauched in Ikorodu Central for the first time.
According to her, the programme would help to alleviate the suffering of the less privileged masses in Ikorodu as they would be able to put the equipment to use and make money.
“Those in government should emulate Balogun. As a result of this empowerment, ACN now has lots of members.  All the 57 Local Governments and LCDAs should emulate him and move us forward,†she stated.
