The lawmaker representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rep. Babajimi Adegoke Benson, has distributed ₦225 million in cash grants and a wide range of empowerment items, including buses, cars, commercial tricycles, freezers, solar systems, motorcycles, laptops and vocational equipment, to constituents under the 2026 Renewed Hope Mega Empowerment Programme.
The initiative, aimed at supporting livelihoods, strengthening small businesses, promoting vocational skills and improving community infrastructure, brought together political leaders, traditional rulers, community stakeholders and beneficiaries from across Ikorodu Division.
Among the dignitaries at the event were Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat; the party’s deputy governorship candidate, Princess Damilola Sonayan James; Lagos State APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi; former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye; former Minister of Works and Housing, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe; and the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, alongside other traditional rulers, political leaders and distinguished guests.
OVER 2,800 EMPOWERMENT ITEMS PROVIDED
The 2026 empowerment package covers transportation, vocational trades, household energy, technology, small businesses and community infrastructure.
The items listed for distribution include over 10 transformers, five security patrol vans, seven brand-new buses, 10 cars, 20 brand-new minibuses, 21 additional minibuses, 20 motorcycles, 10 electric bikes and 1,400 household solar systems.
Other items include over 50 small freezers, 150 medium-sized freezers, 20 generators, 20 vulcanising machines, 20 welding generators, 20 grinding machines, 100 sewing machines and 20 industrial sewing machines.
The package also includes over 250 three-kilogramme gas cylinders, 450 six-kilogramme gas cylinders, 100 gas cylinders with a 12.5-kilogramme capacity, 100 HP laptops and 40 commercial tricycles, popularly known as Maruwa.
The range of equipment is intended to support beneficiaries across transportation, tailoring, welding, food preservation, digital services, electricity access and other income-generating activities.
₦225 MILLION CASH GRANTS FOR 800 BENEFICIARIES
Beyond the distribution of equipment, the programme provides substantial financial assistance to constituents.
One hundred beneficiaries received ₦500,000 each, while another 700 beneficiaries received ₦250,000 each. Based on these allocations, the total cash disbursement amounts to ₦225 million for 800 beneficiaries.
The combination of cash grants and productive assets is designed to help residents establish businesses, expand existing enterprises and develop sustainable sources of income.
BENSON CREDITS TINUBU WITH OVER 100 DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
Speaking at the programme, Rep. Benson said the empowerment interventions, alongside over 100 roads, hospitals, schools and other development projects across Ikorodu Division, had been delivered with the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The lawmaker urged constituents to support Tinubu for a second term in office and vote for APC candidates in the forthcoming elections, linking continued political support to the administration’s development agenda.
Benson expressed appreciation to the people of Ikorodu for their continued support and urged beneficiaries to make productive use of the items and financial assistance provided.
Emphasising the purpose of the initiative, he said the objective was to improve residents’ economic circumstances and promote self-reliance rather than make them dependent on political leaders.
“Our goal is to empower people and not to use people,” Benson said, encouraging beneficiaries to deploy the resources effectively to improve their livelihoods and support their families.
He also highlighted development efforts across Ikorodu Division and encouraged residents to participate actively in the forthcoming elections.
HAMZAT CHALLENGES IKORODU TO DELIVER 300,000 VOTES
Lagos State Deputy Governor and APC governorship candidate, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, challenged the people of Ikorodu Division to target 300,000 votes in the 2027 elections.
Hamzat commended Benson for his interventions and contributions to the development of Ikorodu, adding that more projects and infrastructure were coming to the division.
He also expressed appreciation to the people of Ikorodu for their hospitality and continued support, highlighting the importance of initiatives that provide direct assistance to residents and create economic opportunities at the grassroots.
The deputy governor urged constituents to participate in the 2027 elections and support the APC, arguing that continued party leadership would sustain its development agenda and government programmes.
ADEBORUWA COMMENDS BENSON, URGES RESPONSIBLE USE OF ITEMS
Speaking on behalf of traditional rulers in Ikorodu Division, His Royal Majesty Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom, commended Benson for his contributions to the area and efforts to support residents.
The monarch urged beneficiaries to handle the distributed equipment responsibly and ensure that the items serve their intended purposes.
He stressed that the success of an empowerment initiative depends not only on the resources provided but also on how effectively beneficiaries utilise them to improve their livelihoods, support their families and contribute to their communities.
OGUNLEWE CALLS FOR COMPLETION OF DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
Former Minister of Works and Housing, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, used the occasion to appeal to the Lagos State Government to complete ongoing development projects across Ikorodu Division.
He urged the deputy governor to give attention to outstanding projects, stressing the importance of sustained infrastructure development in supporting economic growth and improving residents’ quality of life.
His appeal broadened the discussion beyond individual empowerment to include the need for improved roads, reliable electricity and other public facilities that create an enabling environment for businesses and communities to thrive.
AAREBIRIN FOLASHADE OLABANJI-OBA FEATURES IN QUICKGIST INTERVIEW
Quickgist Media also engaged Aarebirin Hon. Princess Dr. Folashade Olabanji-Oba in an interview during the 2026 Renewed Hope Mega Empowerment Programme.
The interview forms part of Quickgist’s coverage of the programme, providing an opportunity to hear directly from the political stakeholder on the empowerment initiative, development across Ikorodu Division and issues affecting residents.
Her perspective adds to the event’s broader focus on economic empowerment, grassroots development and the role of political representation in addressing community needs.
BENEFICIARIES THANK BENSON, SHARE HOW EMPOWERMENT ITEMS WILL HELP THEM
Beneficiaries of the programme have expressed appreciation to Rep. Benson for providing items intended to support their livelihoods and improve their economic circumstances.
In interviews with Quickgist Media, the beneficiaries spoke about the items they received and offered prayers for the lawmaker.
Charles Azujule — Maruwa Beneficiary
Charles Azujule thanked Benson for the empowerment, explaining that the Maruwa he received would help him get started in the transportation business and generate income.
He expressed appreciation for the opportunity, noting that the commercial tricycle would provide a means of livelihood and help him work towards financial independence.
Bello Kolapo — Maruwa Beneficiary
Bello Kolapo expressed appreciation to Benson, saying he was surprised by the empowerment opportunity. He thanked the lawmaker for the gesture and offered prayers for him in recognition of the support provided.
Olawale Serah — Solar Beneficiary
Olawale Serah, who received a household solar system, also offered prayers for Benson in appreciation of the empowerment initiative.
The beneficiaries’ responses highlight the personal significance of the programme, particularly the opportunities the distributed items could provide for transportation, income generation and household electricity access.
Their testimonies form part of Quickgist Media’s on-the-ground coverage of the initiative and its intended impact on residents of Ikorodu Federal Constituency.
EMPOWERMENT TARGETS BUSINESS GROWTH AND ECONOMIC SELF-RELIANCE
The range of items provided under the programme reflects an approach that combines direct financial assistance with productive assets for income-generating activities.
Buses, minibuses, cars, motorcycles, electric bikes and commercial tricycles could provide opportunities in transportation and mobility services. Freezers and generators could support food preservation and other small businesses, while sewing machines, welding generators, grinding machines and vulcanising equipment are intended to assist beneficiaries in various vocational trades.
The laptops could support digital services, administrative work and other technology-related businesses, depending on beneficiaries’ skills and access to complementary resources.
Household solar systems could provide alternative electricity for domestic use and certain small-business operations. The transformers, meanwhile, represent an infrastructure component with the potential to support electricity distribution when properly installed and integrated into the relevant network.
The security patrol vans could also contribute to community safety when appropriately deployed and managed.
For existing business owners, the equipment could help improve productivity and expand operations. For aspiring entrepreneurs, the cash grants and tools could provide a foundation for establishing new ventures.
The 2026 Renewed Hope Mega Empowerment Programme brings together cash grants, vocational equipment, transportation assets, household energy solutions and infrastructure-related support in an intervention targeting residents of Ikorodu Federal Constituency.
The long-term impact of the initiative will depend on how effectively the resources are utilised, maintained and converted into sustainable economic opportunities for beneficiaries and their communities.
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