50 More Esa-Oke Market Women Receive Cash Grants, Traders, Artisans, Others sing praises of Balogun Omotoso

By our Reporter

A front-line Esa-Oke citizen, Mrs Mary Ekundayo, led other market women, artisans and micro-entrepreneurs in spontaneous, hearty songs of joy, prayers and praises on Friday, 22 August, when the latest 50 (fifty) beneficiaries of the Balogun Edward Omotoso Foundation were officially awarded their cash grants.
These cash awards are specifically designed to further support their trades and micro-businesses under the Balogun Omotoso Foundation’s Women Empowerment Program for Esa-Oke.
Mrs Ekundayo, who represented the Iyaloja of Esa Oke, thanked Balogun Edward Omotoso for his regular interventions and support to the women in the town.
She prayed that God would preserve him and bless him in all his endeavours.
Last year, the Foundation gave cash awards to 106 market women at Esa-Oke,
At the official grants award ceremony, which was held at the Lola Event Centre, Esa-OKe, Oloye Akin Onifade, the Sajuku of Esa Oke, spoke on behalf of the Owamiran of Esa Oke. He applauded High Chief Balogun of Esa-Oke, Dr. Edward Omotoso, for being a patriot and a role model in the development of Esa-Oke.
He recalled his achievements as a world-acclaimed diplomat who had worked in the United Nations Organisation and retired at the peak of a distinguished international career.
He enumerated his contributions to the global community, Nigeria in general and Esa-Oke in particular.
He admonished the lucky market women to make judicious use of the cash support to improve their businesses.
Kabiyesi thereafter called on other sons and daughters of Esa-Oke to emulate High Chief Balogun in his efforts to develop the community.
The ceremony was anchored by TPL Ayo Adediran, who represented the Balogun Edward Omotoso Foundation.
In an address via satellite from his residence in New York City, USA, to the attendees at the ceremony, Balogun Omotoso congratulated the 50 women recipients for being lucky to be selected through a careful process led by the Iyaloja, TPL Ayo Adediran and the Owamiran of Esa-Oke. He emphasised to the women that the grants should be utilised strictly and exclusively for growing their market trading, and not for other unassociated purposes.
The Sajuku of Esa-Oke, Oloye Akin Onifade, represented both the Owamiran of Esa Oke, HRM Oba Adeyemi Akanbi Adediran, Atipa Owaji 11, and the President of the Esa Oke Council of Elders, Chief Joshua Folorunso Babajide.
Other dignitaries present at the ceremony were Prince Wumi Adeniyi, Chairman, Esa-Oke Renewal Initiative, Otunba Yinusa Bamigboye, Chairman, Esa-Oke Central Union, Hon Niyi Ekundayo, Mr Niyi Omotoso and Mr Ajayi (Jemujemu).
At the award ceremony, forty-one out of the fifty beneficiaries were in attendance.
The co-ordinator and representative of the Foundation, TPL Adediran, in his welcome address, stated the purpose of the meeting. He welcomed and appreciated the support of the participants while speaking on the background and purpose of the ceremony.
The Chairman of Esa Oke Central Union, Otunba Yinusa Bamigboye, Prince Wumi Adeniyi, Chairman of the Esa Oke Renewal Initiative and the Vice President of the Esa Oke Council of Elders all expressed gratitude to Balogun Dr. Edward Omotoso, founder of the Foundation, and the Market Women Empowerment Program. They believed it was another initiative to help youths and women in Esa-Oke. The speakers enjoined the beneficiaries to be diligent and prudent in their trading and conduct.