Rep. Babajimi Adegoke Benson, Member of the House of Representatives representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, has disbursed ₦225 million in cash grants to 800 beneficiaries and distributed vehicles, transformers, solar systems, vocational equipment and other support items under the 2026 Renewed Hope Mega Empowerment Programme, held at the Ikorodu Musical Village to support businesses, strengthen livelihoods and promote economic development across Ikorodu Division.

The programme attracted political leaders, traditional rulers, community stakeholders and beneficiaries from across Ikorodu Division. The initiative was designed to support small businesses, promote vocational skills, improve household welfare and create sustainable economic opportunities for residents.

Dignitaries at the event included Lagos State Deputy Governor and APC governorship candidate, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat; the party’s deputy governorship candidate, Aarebirin Princess Damilola Sonayon James; Lagos State APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi; former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye; former Minister of Works and Housing, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe; and the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, alongside other traditional rulers and political leaders.

The cash grant component of the programme provided ₦225 million to 800 beneficiaries to support their businesses, livelihoods and economic activities. One hundred beneficiaries received ₦500,000 each, amounting to ₦50 million, while another 700 beneficiaries received ₦250,000 each, totalling ₦175 million.

The financial assistance, combined with the distribution of productive assets and vocational equipment, is intended to help residents establish new businesses, expand existing enterprises and improve their financial independence.

The empowerment package covered transportation, vocational trades, household energy, technology and community infrastructure, with a wide range of items provided for beneficiaries across the constituency.

The items included 10 transformers, five security patrol vans, seven brand-new buses, 10 cars, 20 brand-new minibuses, 21 additional minibuses, 20 motorcycles and 10 electric bikes. The package also featured over 40 commercial tricycles, popularly known as Maruwa, to support beneficiaries interested in the transportation business.

Other items included over 1,400 household solar systems, 200 freezers comprising 50 small and 150 medium-sized units, 20 generators, 20 vulcanising machines, 20 welding generators and 20 grinding machines.

Tailoring and garment-making businesses received support through over 100 sewing machines and over 20 industrial sewing machines, while about 100 HP laptops were included to support digital services, administrative work and other technology-related activities.

The programme also featured hundreds of gas cylinders in different capacities, including over 250 three-kilogramme cylinders, over 450 six-kilogramme cylinders and over 100 cylinders with a capacity of 12.5 kilogrammes, bringing the total to over 800 gas cylinders.

The wide range of items is intended to provide beneficiaries with practical resources for income generation, improve access to household energy and strengthen small businesses across the constituency.

Speaking at the event, Benson highlighted development interventions across Ikorodu Division, including over 100 roads, hospitals, schools and other projects, which he said had been delivered with the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The lawmaker expressed appreciation to the people of Ikorodu for their continued support and urged beneficiaries to make productive use of the items and financial assistance provided.

He emphasised that the objective of the empowerment initiative was to promote self-reliance by giving residents the resources to improve their livelihoods rather than making them dependent on political leaders.

“Our goal is to empower people and not to use people,” Benson said, urging beneficiaries to deploy the resources effectively to support their families, grow their businesses and contribute to the economic development of their communities.

He also called on constituents to support Tinubu for a second term and vote for APC candidates in the forthcoming elections, linking continued political support to the administration’s development agenda.

Lagos State Deputy Governor and APC governorship candidate, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, challenged the people of Ikorodu Division to target 300,000 votes in the 2027 general elections.

Hamzat commended Benson for his interventions and contributions to the development of Ikorodu, noting that additional projects and infrastructure were expected in the division.

He expressed appreciation to residents for their hospitality and continued support, while encouraging them to participate actively in the forthcoming elections and support APC candidates.

The deputy governor highlighted the importance of grassroots initiatives that provide direct assistance to residents, strengthen economic activities and improve living conditions across communities.

Speaking on behalf of traditional rulers in Ikorodu Division, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, commended Benson for his contributions to the development of the area and his efforts to support residents through the empowerment programme.

The monarch urged beneficiaries to handle the items responsibly and ensure that they serve their intended purposes. He stressed that the impact of empowerment initiatives depends on how effectively beneficiaries utilise the resources to improve their livelihoods, support their families and contribute to their communities.

Former Minister of Works and Housing, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, appealed to the Lagos State Government to prioritise the completion of ongoing development projects across Ikorodu Division.

He urged Hamzat to give attention to outstanding projects, noting the importance of sustained infrastructure development in supporting economic growth and improving residents’ quality of life.

His appeal highlighted the need to complement individual empowerment initiatives with improved roads, reliable electricity and other public infrastructure that can create a more favourable environment for businesses and communities to thrive.

During an interview, Aarebirin Princess Folashade Olabanji-Oba, a Commissioner at the Local Government Service Commission, commended Benson, popularly known as JB, for his consistent laudable initiatives, noting that he had once again delivered a massive empowerment programme. She added that the equipment distributed would benefit the recipients by supporting their livelihoods and creating opportunities for economic growth.

Mrs Oluwakemi Julius, speaking on behalf of Olufunke Araro Community, expressed joy over the provision of transformers facilitated by Benson, describing the intervention as a welcome development for residents who had endured about two years without electricity.

She commended Benson for his interventions, noting that the transformers had raised hopes of improved electricity supply and better living conditions in the community.

Julius added that residents had embarked on house-to-house sensitisation to encourage support for Benson and the APC, expressing confidence in the lawmaker’s commitment to community development. She further disclosed that residents were eagerly awaiting the return of the team, with community members preparing drums and other celebratory activities to welcome the intervention.

Some beneficiaries also expressed appreciation to Benson, describing the items they received as opportunities to improve their livelihoods and work towards financial independence.

Mr. Hakeem, a beneficiary of a commercial tricycle under the programme, expressed excitement and gratitude to Benson for the opportunity, describing the gesture as a significant step towards improving his livelihood.

Another tricycle beneficiary also appreciated Benson for the initiative, noting that the vehicle would be hugely beneficial to him and provide an opportunity to generate income through the transportation business.

Charles Azujule, another beneficiary of a commercial tricycle, expressed profound gratitude to Benson, explaining that the vehicle would help him enter the transportation business and generate income.

He noted that the support would provide a means of livelihood and enable him to work towards greater financial stability.

Bello Kolapo, also a Maruwa beneficiary, expressed surprise and appreciation at being selected for the programme. He thanked Benson for the support and offered prayers for the lawmaker.

Similarly, Odugbesi Kenny Olalekan, a beneficiary of a motorcycle, appreciated Benson for the opportunity, saying the gesture had brought back his smile. He prayed for God’s continued guidance, protection and blessings upon the lawmaker.

Mr. Sanjo, who received a household solar system, also expressed appreciation to Benson, noting the value of the intervention in improving access to electricity at home.

The beneficiaries’ testimonies highlighted the potential impact of the programme on transportation services, household energy access and income-generating activities.

The 2026 Renewed Hope Mega Empowerment Programme combines direct financial assistance with productive assets to support residents across different sectors of the local economy. Buses, minibuses, cars, motorcycles, electric bikes and commercial tricycles provide opportunities for transportation-related businesses, while freezers and generators can support food preservation and other commercial activities.

Sewing machines, welding generators, grinding machines and vulcanising equipment provide practical support for vocational trades. The laptops can assist beneficiaries in digital services and other technology-based businesses, while household solar systems offer alternative electricity solutions. The transformers represent an infrastructure component that could support electricity distribution when properly installed and integrated into the relevant network.

The security patrol vans could also support community safety when appropriately deployed and managed.

For existing entrepreneurs, the equipment could help increase productivity and expand operations, while aspiring business owners could use the grants and tools as a foundation for establishing new ventures.

The long-term impact of the initiative will depend on the effective use, maintenance and management of the resources provided, as well as beneficiaries’ ability to convert the support into sustainable economic opportunities across Ikorodu Federal Constituency.