In a major push to consolidate political support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, residents from the South-South geopolitical zone residing in Kogi State have extended cash assistance to four students of the Federal University Lokoja (FUL) to aid their academic resumption.
The development was made public on Sunday in Lokoja during a working advocacy visit by the President of South-South States in Kogi and Special Adviser on South-South Mobilization, Hon. Abu Michael, to the Ofure Multipurpose Cooperative Women Society Limited.
Addressing members of the cooperative—who constitute key voting blocs across polling units at Women Affairs, Lokongoma Primary School, Bell View, Fortune School, and Phase 1 Lokongoma—Michael commended their grassroots mobilization for Governor Ododo and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He lauded the self-help spirit of the cooperative, which has so far sponsored the academic pursuits of nine FUL students, noting that such civic interventions complement the communal development vision of the Ododo administration.
“Development is collective and should not be left in the hands of government alone. Your objectives have proven that with little support, you will do more in community development,” Michael stated.
To further cushion the socio-economic drive of the group, the Special Adviser promised to link the cooperative with the leadership of Ward A, Zone C axis for integration into incoming empowerment schemes under the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Programme.
In addition, Michael announced that his office has allocated three empowerment slots specifically for small-scale business owners within the cooperative in recognition of their grassroots gender empowerment efforts.
He praised the administration of Governor Ododo for providing women and non-indigenous communities, particularly South-South residents, a proud place in inclusive governance, while urging other associations in the state to emulate the Ofure cooperative.
“The only way to reward this gesture is to ensure that President Tinubu and Governor Ododo win overwhelmingly in the 2027 general elections,” he added, charging the group to maintain its momentum toward an APC victory at the polls.
Responding on behalf of the association, the Chairperson of Ofure Women Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Mrs. Rita Thomas, highlighted that the group brings together women from diverse ethnic backgrounds and states across the federation.
Mrs. Thomas reiterated the unwavering commitment of the cooperative to the Ododo-led administration and pledged their full mobilization to deliver total votes for the APC and its candidates in the 2027 general elections.
