Open Salawu donates salary, gifts N1m each to 5 persons, 100 others benefit, advocates sustainable empowerment scheme
Yinka ADETUNJI
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A call has been made to all well meaning Nigerians, including political office holders, government at all levels, individuals and organizations on the need to institutionalize sustainable impactful empowerment schemes that will upgrade the lives of the less privileged in the society.
The chairman of Oyo state Project Performance Monitoring Agency, Engineer Muftau Open-Salawu, gave the charge at an empowerment program to alleviate five people from poverty to millionaires, held at Sabo area of Ogbomosho, Oyo state.
Engineer Open-Salawu who admitted that poverty rate in Nigeria cannot be reduced through distribution of meagre finance and food, suggested sustainable and impactful empowerment schemes that can create jobs and wealth for the less-privileged in the society.
He noted that such a gesture will not only assist the vulnerable in the society but also would be more efficient in lifting people out of poverty.
Open Salawu while speaking with journalists shortly after distributing the sum of five million naira cheques to five beneficiaries of his maiden “Empowerment Raffle Draw” said his goal is to make it an annual scheme.
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He went on to advise well-to-do Nigerians to imbibe the act of assisting average Nigerians in their capacity.
While urging people to deviate from doubting Thomas towards empowerment programs, he pledged to mentor the beneficiaries of the scheme that goes home with N1m each to be more productive and contribute their quota towards the economic growth of the country.
The beneficiaries of the five million naira who were petty traders, artisans, middle-aged people, the aged and youth appreciated the Oyo state government and enjoined people at the helm of power to emulate Open-Salawu’s empowerment initiatives.
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In his words, Open Salawu said, “this is an ongoing activity, this is not the first time perhaps this is another one that came through social media awareness, I have been doing this for long, it doesn’t just start now, some years back we gave people 50 motorcycles, food, financial support, educational support etc; these are not something I keep in the diary record, I just do it as it comes to my mind.
“As a politician there’s nothing you do that motives won’t be attached to it, the fact remains that if God blesses you try to give back to the community, if you go to my website you will see a word there, “build the people, free the nation.” It is my intention to develop people around me. A few weeks back, we gave scholarships to some indigent students, and have been doing that for seven years now.
“We picked those children from primary school, first set are from Molete Primary School in Ogbomoso South and they have just written their WAEC, unfortunately, it is only two of them that passed JAMB, I am still in discussion with the VC of LAUTECH and I hope that they gain admission to LAUTECH, if not, Ayede Polytechnic for them. 2 out of the first set of the 20 students that were given lifeline scholarships have just finished their primary school.
“I pray to be able to do it annually, it’s a factor of good health and stable income, this is what would influence its continuity. My advice to people that have money is that, try to extend and expand your coast, try to see the number of people you can assist in your life. Anywhere you go, be good, there’s nothing you lose in doing good, and as for those beneficiaries of one million naira each, we’re going to mentor, guide them, we don’t want the money to go down the drain, we’ll see how we can create some input in their business in term of management structure.” Open Salawu said.
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The 64 year old Asanat Jimoh who won one million naira spoke with journalists with tears of joy on behalf of the rest four new millionaires commended Engr. Open Salawu for his kind gesture. She also lauded the transparency manner of conduct of the raffle which gave her the opportunity to be among the beneficiaries.
The event featured raffle draw, presentation of symbolic cheque to five newly millionaires in Ogbomosho, cash awards of five thousand naira to every participants randomly picked across the town.
