How ₦50,000 Could Change the Story of 50 Women in Agege

Kehinde Adeleye

For 50 women in Agege, what started as an ordinary financial management training ended with an unexpected cash support that left some of them overwhelmed with joy.

The women, many of whom run small businesses and depend on their daily earnings to support themselves and their families, each received ₦50,000 from the Agege Local Government Chairman, Hon. Abdul Ganiyu Vinod Obasa.

The support, totalling ₦2.5 million, was presented after a financial management training organised by the council in partnership with the Adara Foundation at the Agege Local Government Secretariat Hall.

Rather than simply handing out money, the programme first focused on helping the women understand how to manage what they already have, from keeping better records and managing income to saving and strengthening their businesses.

For the beneficiaries, however, the ₦50,000 came as a welcome surprise.

Mrs. Yetunde Adebayo, one of the beneficiaries, said she came expecting to learn but never imagined she would leave with financial support.

“Honestly, I did not see this coming. We came for the training, but when the support was announced, I was overwhelmed. One of us was so excited that she rolled on the floor. It showed how much this gesture meant to us,” she said.

For another beneficiary, Mrs. Kemi Balogun, the value of the money goes beyond the figure written on the cheque.

“Many may see ₦50,000 as small, but it goes a long way for many of us, especially the beneficiaries. It can add to our business capital and help us improve our daily economic activities. We sincerely appreciate the Chairman,” she said.

The intervention is particularly significant for women whose businesses depend on relatively small amounts of capital to keep moving. For a trader trying to restock, a food seller looking to buy more ingredients or an entrepreneur trying to keep a small venture afloat, an additional ₦50,000 can provide room to breathe and continue.

Speaking at the programme, Obasa said women remained an important part of Agege’s local economy, particularly through trading, entrepreneurship and small businesses.

He said the decision to combine financial training with direct support was intended to ensure that beneficiaries had both the knowledge and resources to put what they had learnt into practice.

The council’s Supervisor for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Odubena Toyin, said supporting women had a wider effect because women often carry the economic wellbeing of their families and communities with them.

“When we empower women with knowledge and the means to apply it, we are strengthening not only the women but their families and communities,” she said.

For the 50 women who received the support, the real test begins after leaving the council secretariat.

The hope is that the money will not simply provide temporary relief but become additional capital that can help their businesses grow, increase their income and provide greater stability for their families.

The Agege Local Government administration said it would continue to pursue programmes that combine skills development with practical support, particularly initiatives capable of improving the economic wellbeing of residents at the grassroots.