(SINL NIGERIA) Senator representing Ondo North at the 10th Senate, Senator Olajide Ipinsagba has said the six local government areas that constitute Ondo North senatorial district will soon enjoy mega empowerment scheme.
Indeed, the programme, according to the lawmaker will provide employment opportunities to large number of constituents of Ondo North senatorial zone.
Specifically, he added that the comprehensive mega empowerment programme will include the distribution of grinding machines, motorcycles, tricycles among others.
Senator Ipinsagba, who is the chairman of Senate committee on Public Procurement made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Reviewing his stewardship in the last 18 months at the upper legislative chamber, Ipinsagba noted that within the first three months in office, he invested in cottage industry and built civic center at Ikare Akoko, saying the people of Owo and Ose have benefitted boreholes and solar light projects. “We called it Operation light up Ondo North”.
“In Afin, they were invaded by poisonous insects, we brought it under control.
“When we saw the need, we took the lead. We were able to bring down that epidemic into control. They were happy with us in that town” Ipinsagba said.
He gave an insight into a bill for the establishment of university of Information and Communication Technology at Ikare, which has passed public hearing.
He said “We have built stalls for market women. In Owo, we renovated schools, similarly, we replicated same at Ikare Akoko.
Senator Ipinsagba provided more details. “Now, within the 3 months period I got to the senate, I was able to put in place about 3 projects that I can call signatures in my own senatorial district. I look at areas of needs in my own senatorial district.
“For example, within the 3 months, I was able to put in place a cottage hospital which is done to international standard.
“It is there for people to see, it is there for people to verify this claim. And it doesn’t stop there. In Akoko South-West, we were able to construct about 1.5 km of roads.
“Today people are plying the road, vehicles are moving on the road. Then, we were also able to build 28 local stores. They are there for people to see. And this was done within a period of 3 months in the office.
“Because government is a continuous process, When we got there, we met projects that we were supposed to execute and we quickly rushed into it, we met opportunities that we were able to convert into needs.
“Outside this, we believe in teaching people how to catch fish rather than giving out fish. We have been able to embark on so many empowerment projects in terms of training people on how to acquire skill on their own.
“The essence of doing that is to bring to a minimum people looking for white-collar jobs. The Government cannot provide jobs for everybody, but we should be able to use our hands, our creativity to do something on our own. And that is the era we are, in the 21st century.
“People should be able to use their intelligence to bring out something good in themselves. When you go to the university, that university is to provide you with a developed mind. We taught people how to do cosmetic materials, painting, and how to use computers to maximize profit.
“So we taught them all these. And it is not only teaching, when they finished the program, we distributed computers to each of them that attended the program. And we also backed it up with cash, so that they can go and start something on their own; instead of waiting for the government to come and give them jobs” Senator Ipinsagba added.
