The Leke Abejide Foundation has completed the disbursement of ₦710 million to 71 communities across Yagbaland under its Community Empowerment Initiative aimed at supporting grassroots development projects.
Follow us on Google News
Each community in Yagba East, Yagba West and Mopamuro Local Government Areas of Kogi State received ₦10 million to execute projects considered important by residents.
The grand finale of the disbursement exercise was held in Ife-Olukotun, Okeoyi in Yagba East LGA, where the member representing Yagba Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Leke Abejide, said the initiative was designed to ensure that every community benefits directly from development support.
According to him, the programme was created to allow communities identify and solve their own pressing challenges without waiting endlessly for government intervention.
“This initiative is about putting resources directly in the hands of the people so they can address their most pressing needs without delay. From agriculture to infrastructure, education to health, the choice of projects lies with the communities themselves,” Abejide said.
The disbursement exercise was earlier held in Ejuku and Ponyan before concluding in Ife-Olukotun, with community representatives receiving cheques on behalf of their people.
Beneficiaries were advised to invest the funds in visible and impactful projects capable of improving living conditions within their communities.
Abejide also used the tour to update residents on ongoing infrastructure projects within the constituency, especially road construction works linking several communities in Yagbaland.
He assured residents that work would continue on the ongoing 2km drainage and 1km asphalt road projects in Ejuku and Ife-Olukotun despite delays in contractor payments.
The lawmaker stated that Ponyan community would also benefit from the ongoing road interventions and stressed that no community along the Igbagun–Ife-Olukotun–Ponyan–Jege–Ejuku–Ijowa corridor would be abandoned.
According to him, construction activities would continue across communities along the route as more funds become available.
Speaking during the event in Ponyan, President of the Ponyan Development Association, Hon. Fabola Banjo, disclosed that the community plans to use its ₦10 million grant to support a community tractor scheme targeted at improving agricultural activities.
He praised the intervention and pledged continued support for Abejide’s political future.
Traditional rulers and community leaders across the constituency also commended the initiative, describing it as one of the largest direct community support programmes witnessed in the area.
At the Ejuku event, the Elejuku of Ejuku, Oba Folorunsho Lamide Ayeni, alongside the President of the Ejuku Development Society, Pastor Adetiba Walid, praised Abejide for sustaining support across multiple sectors including infrastructure, education and community welfare.
The Ife-Olukotun event attracted a large crowd of residents, youth groups and traditional rulers who gathered to celebrate the completion of the empowerment exercise.
Abejide further disclosed that he had reached an agreement with contractors handling the Igbagun–Ponyan–Ijowa-Isanlu road project to continue earthworks on the route pending asphalt overlay.
According to him, the decision was necessary to make the road motorable for residents and farmers moving goods across communities.
Yagba East Local Government Chairman, Hon. Joshua Dare, and Kogi State House of Assembly member, Hon. Emmanuel Obaro, also praised Abejide’s representation at the National Assembly.
They urged residents to continue supporting both President Bola Tinubu and Rt. Hon. Leke Abejide, saying more development projects would come to the constituency through sustained political support.
Traditional rulers including His Royal Majesty Oba Mohammed Ibrahim of Ife-Olukotun, His Royal Highness Oba Segun Alaiyemola of Ponyan and Oba Molomo Aminu, the Olohun of Ohun, commended Abejide for supporting traditional institutions across Yagbaland.
The monarchs cited the donation of SUV vehicles, monthly stipends and payment of WAEC fees for students in secondary schools across Okunland as examples of interventions already delivered through the foundation.
The Ife-Olukotun Descendants Union also expressed appreciation for a separate ₦20 million donation and the ongoing rehabilitation of the Igbagun–Alu–Oranre–Ife-Olukotun–Jege–Ejuku–Ijowa road.
In a letter signed by its National President, Dr. Kehinde Mohammed, the union described the road project as a major intervention capable of transforming economic activities across the area.
The group noted that the road had remained in poor condition for more than a decade, affecting movement of farm produce, transportation and security within the axis.
The union also pledged support for Abejide’s third-term ambition in the House of Representatives.
Director General of the Leke Abejide Foundation, Amb. Ayobami Dada, said the initiative reflects the foundation’s commitment to improving the lives of people across the constituency.
He clarified that the ₦710 million disbursed to communities came from personal donations made by the foundation’s chairman and not from public funds.
Dada warned that communities found to have misused the funds would not benefit from future disbursement phases.
According to him, a monitoring team has already been constituted to supervise project execution and ensure accountability.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the foundation, His Royal Highness Oba Shola Adebola, the Olugbagun of Igbagun, appreciated residents for the peaceful and successful conduct of the week-long exercise.
Speaking after the event, Rt. Hon. Leke Abejide and his wife, Yeye Esther Abejide, assured residents that the foundation would continue supporting development initiatives across Yagbaland.
Community leaders described the intervention as unprecedented in scale and impact, noting that the programme has further strengthened the relationship between the people and their representative in the National Assembly.
