Teaching Her Constituents How To Fish: Adebule’s Impactful Empowerment Programmes In Nigeria’s Biggest Senatorial District
The main hall of Academy Guest House at Agidingbi was packed full of women. They were gaily dressed, singing and dancing, joy radiated all over them.
It was the graduation ceremony and presentation of tools, materials and cash to aid them in their various businesses. They were the beneficiaries of the vocational training programmes initiated and facilitated by the Senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator (Dr) Idiat Oluranti Adebule for women in her Senatorial District.
Over 1,500 women spread across the 10 local governments and 18 local council development areas of arguably the largest Senatorial District in Nigeria were trained in various vocations such as: hair styling, baking, fashion designing and others. They were given tools of their trades at the event. In addition, over 100 widows were given cash assistance at the event.
To cap it all, a raffle draw was organised and the lucky women went home with items such as deep freezers, blending machines, pepper grinders and generators. The highlight of the raffle draw was the presentation of two mini buses to two women whose tickets won the main prize. It is worthy of note to state here that one of the women who won the mini buses was from Apa in Olorunda LCDA.
The First Lady of Lagos, Dr (Mrs) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; and the Women Leader of the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Honourable Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, were so impressed that they publicly wished that Senator Adebule is from the Lagos Central Senatorial District. Such was the impact of programme on the two women. The former Deputy Governor of Lagos State spent over N100 million on that programme.
That was one out of many social Interventions of Senator Adebule since her assumption of office as the Senator representing the largest Senatorial District in the country.
Adebule, a humanist, mother and diligent politician is a firm believer in empowering people with programmes which would have positive and durable impacts on their lives. Her people-oriented programmes and projects have made her excelled in her job.
About two weeks ago, she invited all the Chairmanship and Councillorship candidates of APC from her Senatorial District to her constituency office in Ikeja. At the event, she distributed over N150 million to the candidates to assist them in their quest to win the coming local government elections in the state.
This confirmed her loyalty and commitment to the success of the party that gave her the platform to be in the National Assembly.
In the past, Senator Adebule has facilitated the distribution of free fertilisers to farmers in her Senatorial District while 200 youths spread across the district have undergone training in fish farming at the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research. Beneficiaries of this programme were given tools of their trade and cash support and this medium can confirm that most of them are now certified fish farmers now, making money from fish farming.
It worthy of note to state here that traditional rulers in Lagos West Senatorial District have also received training in security and community relations courtesy of Senator Adebule and were presented with tools and cash at the end of the programme.
One project very dear to the Senator is the Badagry Youth Development Centre at Ibereko. This center has been abandoned for years and it took the intervention of Adebule for its revival.
Now, having spent millions of naira on the project, the Badagry Youth Centre is nearing full completion. The importance of this centre cannot be overemphasized. It is a multi-purpose centre designed to accommodate all interest. It has vocational section to train youths and women in various vocational skills. It has a multi-purpose event centre. It also has different sections for sports: football field, table tennis, lawn tennis court, gym and basketball court to mention a few. This centre will also provide employment for some youths in the area it is located.
A similar but smaller skill acquisition centre is being built at Damegoro Street, Mushin to cater for the interest of youths in Lagos West I.
The people of Igbolobi, one of the riverine communities in Amuwo Odofin Local Government now have a modern health centre courtesy of Mama West. It is meant to bring health care delivery and service closer to the people in the rural areas.
Market stalls have been constructed in various markets in the Senatorial District while furniture has been provided for selected hospitals in the District.
Medical outreach programmes have been conducted in some local governments in the Senatorial District while other local governments are set to benefit. This is in addition to the provision distribution of essential equipment to some physically-challenged people in the Senatorial District.
A mother and humane personality, Senator Adebule always put smiles on the faces of her constituents during festive and special occasions. These include: donation of N1 million to the Best Graduating student in Law at the Lagos State University in 2023, Aminat Yusuf; distribution of food packs to at least 10,000 households to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal; consistent distribution of rice and other food items during festive periods and distribution of food items to the vulnerable in the Senatorial District.
From Agege to Badagry, down to Mushin, Tire, Ikeja, Isolo, Amuwo-Odofin, Iba, Satellite Town and Amukoko, solar-powered street-lights have been installed in selected streets.
Despite all these, Senator Adebule has not faltered in her primary legislative duty.
To date, the workaholic woman has proposed the following bills and motions on the floor of the hallowed chamber of the Senate:
(a) A Bill For An Act To Amend The Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act, Cap N4, Laws Of The Federation Of Nigeria 2004. (Second Reading – 5th June 2024 )
(b) A Bill For An Act To Amend The Proceeds Of Crime (Recovery And Management) Act No. 16 (13th February 2024)
(c) A Bill To Enact Gender And Equitable Opportunities Bill, 2024 (20th March 2024)
(d) A Bill For An Act To Amend The Sheriff And Civil Process Act Cap S6 (Laws Of The Federation Of Nigeria 2004. (8th May 2024)
(e) A Bill For An Act To Amend Land Use Act – (8th October 2024)
(f) A Bill For An Act To Amend Child Rights Act – (26th November 2024)
B. Motions:
(a) Compelling Need To Tackle The Challenge Of Out Of School Children In Nigeria
(b) Urgent Need To Mandate Schools To Locate Their Creche And Nursery Classes On The Ground Floors Of Their High-Rise Buildings And Implement Safety Protocols
“Senator Adebule has been a silent achiever and has been able to deliver dividends of democracy to her constituents. In two years, she has indeed impacted positively on the people of her Senatorial District,” Adeola Adekunle, one of the women who has benefitted from one of several empowerment programmes of the Senator told our correspondent.
A youth in Badagry, Senayon Oluwole said the completion of the Badagry Youth Centre will be the real game-changer. “This is a multi-purpose centre that will benefit both women and youth in Badagry and beyond. The woman believes in teaching people how to eat rather than giving pieces of fish to eat,” she said.
There is no doubt that in just two years of her election into the Red Chamber, Senator Adebule has continue to prove the doubting Thomases wrong. As she steps into the last leg of her first four years as a lawmaker, Mama West is geared up for more impactful tenure in office.
