Ajaokuta witnessed a three-day empowerment drive led by Hon. Sanni Egidi Abdulraheem (SEA), the Member representing Ajaokuta Federal Constituency in Nigeria’s House of Representatives. The event, which took place from November 1 to 3, 2025, marked one of the most extensive welfare outreach programmes seen in the area, focusing on strengthening community development and improving livelihoods.
The visit began with the launch of a Mega Empowerment Programme that targeted youths, women, farmers, traders, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens. The lawmaker rolled out various economic support items including motorcycles, tricycles, deep freezers, business tools and farm inputs.
He also introduced ICT training with start-up grants for young people and provided financial assistance for households considered vulnerable. According to Hon. Abdulraheem, this initiative was “a defining moment in the journey toward economic emancipation,” and he described each distributed item as “a seed of prosperity” meant to encourage self-reliance among constituents.
One of the major announcements was the introduction of a ₦10,000 monthly stipend for 200 elderly citizens. The lawmaker stated that the programme was designed to support ageing members of society who often struggle with welfare access.
He credited Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for enabling what he called “a supportive atmosphere for development,” noting projects such as the Ajaokuta Free Trade Zone, the Eganyi–Ebiya Road, and LNG installations. He also acknowledged former Governor Yahaya Bello for laying the developmental groundwork that allowed new initiatives to expand. Traditional rulers, political leaders, and hundreds of beneficiaries attended the event and celebrated what they described as an inclusive outreach.
Day Two of the tour focused on humanitarian programmes. Working with the State and National Emergency Management Agencies, SEMA and NEMA, Hon. Abdulraheem supervised the distribution of food relief across several communities. He explained that he personally pushed for Ajaokuta to be included in national relief coverage. “I represent everyone,” he said.
“The food must reach all Ajaokutans.” Elderly beneficiaries of the monthly stipend programme were also issued ATM cards to make disbursement easier. Community figures described the approach as a first in local welfare management.
The final day involved an inspection of the ongoing renovation of the Ajaokuta Local Government Secretariat. The lawmaker, accompanied by Executive Chairman Hon. Haruna Ogido, revealed that the building had not been renovated in more than thirty years, dating back to his own early civil servant days. He praised Governor Ododo for prioritising infrastructure renewal and commended Ogido for improved governance and security efforts.
Later, he met with thousands of residents from Geregu, Ajaokuta Village, Upake, and Adogu/Ogodo wards. Emphasising balanced representation, he said, “For the past three days, I have been home with my people, listening, engaging, and distributing support. No community will be left behind.” Residents from different ethnic groups expressed gratitude for what they described as a fair leadership model and assured support.
Closing the engagement, Hon. Abdulraheem connected current developmental progress with the policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Ododo. He encouraged constituents to support their re-election bid in 2027, insisting that continuity at state and federal levels would sustain Ajaokuta’s development trajectory.
