Over 200 constituents of Oluyole Federal Constituency in Oyo State have been empowered with startup grants and intensive training in aquaculture fisheries management, as part of a poverty-reduction and economic empowerment initiative facilitated by the lawmaker representing the constituency, Rep. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe.
Speaking on Friday in Ibadan at the empowerment programme, Akande-Sadipe said the initiative was designed to equip constituents with practical skills and financial support to build sustainable livelihoods through aquaculture.
The lawmaker explained that the programme, which combined capacity-building with the disbursement of grants, underscored her commitment to empowering constituents to become self-reliant and economically productive.
According to her, the aquaculture fisheries management training was carefully structured to provide beneficiaries with modern knowledge and best practices in fish farming, while the accompanying grants would enable them to immediately put the training into practice.
Akande-Sadipe noted that the empowerment of over 200 beneficiaries with N100,000 each was aimed at promoting small-scale aquaculture enterprises, boosting local food production, and creating income opportunities within the constituency.
She reiterated her resolve to continue initiating programmes targeted at reducing poverty and improving the standard of living of her constituents, adding that economic empowerment remains a key pillar of her legislative focus.
The lawmaker also appreciated the people of Oluyole Federal Constituency for their sustained support and cooperation, assuring them of more people-oriented initiatives and dividends of democracy.
Some of the beneficiaries, including Mr. Lukman Adebisi and Mrs. Rukayat Jimoh, praised Akande-Sadipe for her consistency in rolling out empowerment programmes, describing the aquaculture initiative as timely and impactful.
Adebisi said the grant would significantly enhance his catfish farming business, while the training had broadened his understanding of efficient fish farming techniques. Jimoh also expressed gratitude, noting that the lawmakerās empowerment programmes had positively impacted many households.
The training featured facilitators from the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR).
Highlights of the programme included the distribution of startup grants of N100,000 each to the over 200 beneficiaries, amounting to a total of N20 million.
