Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Adeolu Akande has gifted a trailer load of 800 bags of cement, N1 million support for affected traders and interest – free Youth Empowerment Programme to support graduating apprehentices loan by the Adeolu Akande Foundation to the traders in the burnt Araromi Spare Parts market in Ibadan,Oyo State.
The Chairman of the NCC handed over the goodies to the traders while he paid a condolence visit to the market in Ibadan yesterday.
The Araromi market,which is the largest spare parts market in South West Nigeria was gutted by fire penultimate week leading to loss of property worth millions of Nigeria.
In his meeting with leaders of the market,Professor Akande commiserated with them, praying that God will stop such bad occurrences in the market and in Oyo State in general.
He said, as Chairman of a government agency like the National Emergency Management Agency,he had opened talks with the agency to ensure that palliative materials are supplied to the traders in the market.
He said, he was sure that this will soon come the way of the traders because the Buhari Administration is committed to the well being of citizens, including the traders.
Akande said as a reporter in the Nigerian Tribune, he was a regular visitor to the Spare parts market because he started life with second and third hand vehicles that made him a friend of mechanics and regular visitor to the Spare Parts market. ” You know anyone who uses a second or third hand vehicle must be friend of mechanics and spare parts sellers”, he said.
He expressed concerns over the fate of young graduating apprentices who on graduation in the market find it difficult to raise the funds to start their own businesses.He announced an Empowerment programme by the Adeolu Akande Foundation to provide Interest-Free loans for graduating young apprehentices. He said the loan would be managed by representatives of the Foundation and members of the market.He said the programme would commence immediately.
The NCC Chairman was accompanied on the visit by a former secretary to the Oyo State Government, four former Commissioners, twelve former and serving local government chairmen and several members of federal board, elders and women leaders in the All Progressives Congress(APC).
On the entourage of Prof Akande were Alhaji Waheed Akin Olajide,former Secretary to the Oyo State Govt. Mr Adebayo Ojo, former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General.Hon Nureni Adisa,former Commissioner for Special Duties and others.
