The Leke Abejide Foundation has concluded the grand finale of its Community Empowerment Initiative, disbursing ₦10 million each to the 71 communities in Yagbaland in a program aimed at driving grassroots development.
The initiative, which covered Yagba East, Yagba West, and Mopamuro LGAs, reached every community in the federal constituency with direct financial support for locally identified projects.
Speaking at the final disbursement event held in Ife-Olukotun, Okeoyi, Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State, Hon. Leke Abejide, member representing Yagba Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, said the program was designed to ensure no community was left behind.
“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.
Earlier disbursements were held in Ejuku and Ponyan, where communities converged to receive their cheques.
Beneficiaries were instructed to use the funds for tangible projects and to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration to secure subsequent tranches for legacy projects across the communities.
Abejide, who spoke at all the disbursement centres, said work on the ongoing 2km drainage and 1km asphalt road in Ejuku and Ife-Olukotun would continue despite delays in contractor payments.
He assured residents he would do everything within his reach to ensure the project is completed, pointed out that Ponyan community will also benefit.
He also stated that no community along the Igbagun–Ife-Olukotun–Ponyan–Jege–Ejuku–Ijowa road would be skipped, and that construction would progress in all communities along the route as funds are released.
At the Ejuku event, the Elejuku of Ejuku, Oba Folorunsho Lamide Ayeni, and the President of the Ejuku Development Society, Pastor Adetiba Walid, commended Abejide’s consistent engagement and support across different sectors.
In Ponyan, President of the Ponyan Development Association, Hon. Fabola Banjo, said the community would use the grant for a community tractor scheme and pledged continued support for Abejide’s political journey.
The Ife-Olukotun event drew a large crowd celebrating the disbursement. Abejide used the tour to give updates on ongoing federal and constituency projects, including the Igbagun–Ponyan–Ijowa-Isanlu road.
He said he had agreed with the contractor to continue earthworks to make the route motorable to Ijowa ahead of asphalt overlay.
Also speaking at various communities, Yagba East Local Government Chairman Hon. Joshua Dare and House of Assembly member Hon. Emmanuel Obaro commended Abejide’s purposeful leadership and representation.
They called on residents to demonstrate loyalty by supporting the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Rt. Hon. Leke Abejide, noting that “to whom much is given, much is expected.”
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, praised Abejide for his support to traditional institutions.
They cited SUV vehicles, monthly stipends, and the payment of WAEC fees for secondary schools in Okunland as examples of his interventions, and urged their subjects to continue supporting him.
The Ife-Olukotun Descendants Union expressed gratitude for the ₦20 million donation and for Abejide’s intervention in rehabilitating the Igbagun–Alu–Oranre–Ife-Olukotun–Jege–Ejuku–Ijowa road.
In a letter signed by National President Dr. Kehinde Mohammed, the union said the funds would be judiciously spent on projects beneficial to the people.
The group described the road project, which had been in a deplorable state for over a decade, as a life-saving intervention that would ease the movement of farm produce, reduce transportation difficulties, improve socio-economic activities, and help curb insecurity.
The union also commended Abejide’s efforts in improving security across Yagbaland and pledged “100% support” for his bid for a third term in the National Assembly.
In his closing remarks, the Director General of the foundation, Amb. Ayobami Dada, commended the team for a successful exercise and said the foundation was committed to making life more meaningful for the people of the constituency.
He clarified that the funds were personal donations from the foundation’s chairman, not government money, and warned that communities that misused the funds would not receive subsequent tranches.
He said a project monitoring team is already in place and would soon go round to assess progress.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees, His Royal Highness Oba Shola Adebola, the Olugbagun of Igbagun, appreciated the cooperation enjoyed during the week-long event, which saw all 71 communities in Yagbaland receive ₦10 million each.
Speaking to journalists after the event, Rt. Hon. Leke Abejide and his wife, Yeye Esther Abejide, assured the people of the foundation’s continued support and urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the funds.
Community leaders and traditional rulers across Yagbaland described the initiative as unprecedented in scale and impact, saying it had strengthened trust between the people and their representative. The foundation said monitoring mechanisms had been put in place to ensure the funds are properly applied and projects completed for the benefit of residents.
