Abiodun Pledges Support For Traders, Artisans

Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Friday said his administration has channelled more than N1 billion in financial support to traders, artisans, small business owners and cooperative societies across the state.

Abiodun made this known at the 2026 International Community Development Day and World Trade Day celebrations in Ogun State, calling on traders, artisans, cooperative societies and community leaders to mobilise massive support for the president and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the forthcoming elections.

He also reaffirmed his commitment to delivering two million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the January 16, 2027 presidential election.

The governor said the financial interventions were part of his administration’s commitment to strengthening grassroots enterprises, creating employment and improving the livelihoods of residents.

He explained that N500 million had been provided through the Oko ‘Owo’ Irinse Dapo Soft Loan Initiative to support artisans, traders and small business owners, while more than ₦500 million had also been disbursed to cooperative societies through the state’s revolving loan framework.

He added that his administration had extended financial support to more than 200 Community Development Associations to strengthen community-driven development across towns, villages and neighbourhoods.

On the 2027 elections, Abiodun urged Nigerians to demonstrate confidence in President Tinubu by voting massively for him on January 16, 2027, insisting that the country was beginning to reap the benefits of the economic reforms introduced by the Federal Government.

He cited falling food prices, the elimination of fuel queues, the introduction of student loans, foreign reserves rising above $50 billion and increased revenue allocations to subnational governments as evidence of progress under the Tinubu administration.

“Nigeria is rising without a doubt. We see the light at the end of the tunnel, and we have a duty to ensure that this progress is sustained for the benefit of all of us,” he said.

The governor expressed confidence that Ogun would achieve the two-million-vote target with the support of grassroots organisations, urging the people to sustain the APC’s presence at both federal and state levels.

He also solicited support for all APC candidates in Ogun State, particularly the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as well as its senatorial and House of Assembly candidates.

According to him, continuity in governance remains critical to sustaining the socioeconomic transformation taking place in the state.

Abiodun said his administration had complemented the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda through the implementation of its ISEYA development pillars, which have driven investments in infrastructure, social welfare, education, youth empowerment, agriculture and food security.