Oyetola’s Empowerment Wave Lifts 1,000 Osun Women With Fresh Business Grants

According to Ireporter Online, an empowerment initiative championed by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has supported 1,000 market women across four Local Government Areas in Osun State with business grants aimed at reducing poverty and boosting small-scale enterprises.

The programme, known as the Ilerioluwa Initiative, is sponsored by the Executive Director of Marine and Operations at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Olalekan Badmus, who noted that this marks the fifth edition of the intervention. Badmus explained that the scheme targets several groups, including admission seekers, youths, women, the elderly, and vulnerable individuals, reflecting values he said he learnt from Oyetola’s people-focused leadership style.

He recalled that, during Oyetola’s time as Osun State governor, he was known for supporting thousands of households monthly. Badmus stated that the mentorship he received inspired him to sustain the initiative in Oyetola’s name even after the administration ended. He added that the programme is designed for residents across the federal constituency’s four councils, with the goal of helping women strengthen their small-scale businesses through grant support.

Badmus revealed that more than 1,000 beneficiaries had received assistance in this edition alone and disclosed that plans were underway to expand the scheme in future rounds.

Speaking on political developments in the state, the NPA director expressed confidence that the unity of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun would remain intact after the December 13, 2025 governorship primary. He said the party has internal mechanisms to ensure harmony among aspirants before and after the exercise.

Also commenting, the pioneer Field Commander of Osun Amotekun, Comrade Amitolu Shittu, said the Ilerioluwa organisation had remained the only political structure consistently attending to the welfare needs of Osun residents since Oyetola left office in 2022.