Cash crunch: Oluwo gifts Osun villagers cash, others
The traditional ruler in Iwo Osun Sate, the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdurosheed Akanbi, has doled out grinding machines, sewing machines, and food items to over 200 residents of the town.
A statement by the press secretary to the monarch, Alli Ibrahim, made this known on Sunday.
He noted that the empowerment programme was precipitated by an indigene of the town, Tunde Rahman, to complement Oluwo’s gesture.
The Sun reported that the monarch also supported businesses of over 50 traders with N5,000 cash each to improve on their various enterprises.
While decrying the hardship facing Nigerians most especially petty traders by the unavailability of the naira notes, Oluwo stressed that the token empowerment is to keep their respective business activities.
He stated that he was not unaware of the challenges facing traders due to the naira redesign policy, adding that the empowerment will mitigate the sufferings.
Urging the government at all levels to empower small-scale businesses to check the effect of naira scarcity, the traditional ruler said he initially planned to stage an elaborate cash empowerment but was halted by naira scarcity to give N5,000 each to over 50 beneficiaries.
On the largesse, the monarch revealed 30 sewing machines, 25 grinding machines, hundreds of bags of rice, semovita, groundnut oil, etc were distributed to beneficiaries across Iwoland comprising of Iwo, Ayedire, and Ola-Oluwa Local Governments.
“I felt the pain inflicted on Nigerians most especially the petty traders. This is one of the best moments to extend helping hands to those struggling to survive. The naira scarcity has heightened the hardship. Hence, the need to come to their aid.
“I’ve strong hope in my people to multiply any little given to them. The distribution of sewing machines, grinding machines, and food items is to decimate the hardship inflicted on Iwoland residents.
“Small-scale business owners are primary beneficiaries. I interact with my people and always get feedback. The three local governments of Iwoland – Iwo, Ayedire, and Ola Oluwa benefitted. We need to keep them alive despite the new naira crisis.
“Sewing machines are given to tailoring apprentices without financial strength. We equally selected beneficiaries of the grinding machines and the foodstuffs.”