By: Adémólá Òrunbon

A House of Representative, representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, in conjunction with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), has empowered over 1,167 members of his constituents, in order to be self-reliance and self-independent.

Hon. Faleke, while presenting certificate and start-up grants to the beneficiaries who participated at a week entrepreneurship development training, held at Vintage Point, Acme Road, Ikeja, Lagos, said he would not relent on his oars in providing necessary support for his constituents, so as to realize their desired dreams.

"Indeed, am very glad today with this success story from my constituents, who have undergone trainings in various entrepreneurship skills, which now become small owners, who will now contribute their quota to the development of the society", Faleke said

He emphasized that he would continue to empower women, aged, youths and other members of the society in order to reduce poverty in the society, noting that his intentions was to provide the participants with unique equipment opportunities that would make them stand out among their peers.

Hon. Faleke hinted that Nigeria would be self-sufficient in food production and sustainable, if Nigerians could only engaged in local production of foods, urging the beneficiaries to key into peope's oriented programme, planning and execution of ideas and skills acquired for meaningful results.

"In fact, in my tenure, have empowered over eight thousand people on self-sufficient programmes, seven thousand on entrepreneur skills, 125 have equiped on empowerment opportunities, over 50 laptops have been distributed to students, 6500 solar poles and mega super empowerment coming up by December this year," Faleke said

He enjoined the beneficiaries to be more committed to their jobs and cultivate saving culture and prudence in order to sustain their businesses, as well as to attract other members of society to have positive notions about the empowerment skills.

The Director General of SMEDAN, who was represented by Mr. Olawale Fasanya, the Director of Policy and Planning, said the five days capacity building programme facilitated by Hon. Falake was aimed at reducing poverty and crime rates among the youths in the constituency, urging the beneficiaries to know the son and daughter of whom they are.

Similarly, Alhaji Dally Adeokun, the Chairman, All Progressive Congress (APC) Ikeja Local Government Chapter, commended the SMEDAN for a good collaboration with Hon. Faleke to trained their youths to be self-sufficient, urging the well meaning Nigerians to emulate the kind gesture of Hon. Faleke in reducing poverty and crime rates in the society.

Also speaking, Barr. Yomi Tijani, a former Secretary, Ojodu Local Government Area, said that this has never happened in the history of federal constituency, saying that they were very lucky in having Hon. Falake as their representative, implored the beneficiaries to use the start-up grants judiciously, so as to appreciated the giver.

Soetan Julius, Joshua Nneji, Balogun Abike, Ikudehin Olusesan, who represented the beneficiaries lauded the kind gesture of Hon. Faleke and promised to make good use skills acquired, as well as the start-up kits and grants received.

At the event, over 1,167 beneficiaries who have completed their entrepreneurship training were given certificates, start-up kits and equipment, and some grants to start their businesses and to to be self-sufficient, self-reliance and independent.