Accord’s senatorial candidate for Oyo South, Idris Kolapo Kola-Daisi has described market men and women as major stakeholders who make economy work, adding that it is a major a reason they must rightfully be empowered to perform this role for the benefit of all citizens.
He made this statement on Tuesday while meeting with executive members of all the trader’s associations in Ibadan North East Local Government and also the market men and women of Iso Adiye in Molete area.
In the two separate meetings, Kola-Daisi reiterated the importance of empowering market traders with fitting financial instruments, noting that they play irreplaceable role in driving socioeconomic development with their market activities.
“I thank you for all you’ve said and requested today. However, my experience with years of raising funds for businesses already makes me understand your real needs and the important role you all play in driving development at all levels.
“The activities of market women and men serve as a backbone of any thriving economy. When your businesses are buoyant, the society at all layers will feel it. And when it is not buoyant as you have mostly complained today, the economy, and by extension, the society will suffer for it”.
He continued, “This is why we are not going to do all those cosmetic empowerment programs that you clearly do not need. You do not need Okada, neither do you need those deep freezer kinds of empowerment. What you need is fitting financial supports to sufficiently empower your trade and businesses. You need money to trade, money to expand and scale your businesses to an extent you become employers of labour too. This is key in my plans for you all and we will achieve it.
“We will give you our market men and women the real empowerment you deserve”, Kola-Daisi promised.
Kola-Daisi thanked the market men and women for declaring unflinching support for his candidacy.
A highlight of the meeting with the groups from Ibadan Northeast was the moment some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 3 wards in the Local Government declared their support for the victory of the chartered banker and financial executive at the incoming polls.