Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has approved the release of N500 million as soft loans for traders and artisans across the state.
Abiodun who also gave an 18-seater bus to the State Community Development Council noted that the association and trade unions were the bedrock for sustainable economic growth, saying, “any government that under-estimates the role of artisans and trade unions, do so at his own peril”.
The governor stated this during the 2024 Community Day/World Trade Day celebration, at M.K.O Abiola Stadium, Kuto Abeokuta.
He disclosed that the loan was in recognition of the efforts of community and trade union associations which had positioned the state as the industrial hub of the nation, noting that his administration would achieve economic growth through CDAs.
Earlier, Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperatives, Ademola Balogun, stated that grants-in-aid, among other supports, would also be given to viable and outstanding self-help projects across the state, as well as subvention or administrative grants to 437 Area Community Development Councils, ACDCs.
Balogun noted that Community Development Organisations were major tools for development at the grassroots while trade associations were veritable vehicles for achieving rapid economic growth in any nation.
Speaking, Beje Roku of Oke-Agbo, Ijebu-Igbo, Oba Steven Adekoya, among other awardees, appreciated the government for the recognition, saying the gesture was a call to service, in the course of community development towards achieving sustainable growth.