The Empowerment That Reverberates Across Lagos
By Gbenga Soloki
From the moment he assumed office, the Chairman of Oshodi–Isolo Local Government, Otunba Kehinde Almaroof Oloyede, made an unequivocal promise: that the welfare of his people would take precedence. It is a promise he has kept—steadily and convincingly.
During his first term, Oloyede stood out with exceptional drive and administrative dedication. His tenure saw vigorous road construction and renovation, leading to the completion of over 50 roads, which include Akinniku,Suwebatu,Michael,Omilade Streets etc, the drilling of more than 40 boreholes at Strategic locations like Alade,Michael ,Church and Oyetayo streets as well as provision of solar powered lights and the launch of several youth skills-enhancement and empowerment programmes.
These efforts not only improved infrastructure but also rebuilt trust in grassroots governance.
However, nothing quite matches the scale and impact of the empowerment initiative unveiled on Friday, 12 December 2025 tagged ” Bola Ahmed Tinubu”s Renewed Hope Mega Empowerment”—a programme many observers have described as unprecedented in local government administration across Nigeria.
The mega empowerment programme held at the Oyetayo Council Secretariat attracted a large and diverse audience, including artisans, vulnerable residents, and indigent citizens from across the local government area. It also drew key political figures, notably the Chairman of the ruling party,All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Pastor Cornelius Oyefolu Ojelabi, alongside other members of the party’s state executive as well as the Honourable Members representing Oshodi Isolo Constituency 1 the House Of Representatives and the Lagos state house of Assembly .
In his remarks, Pastor Ojelabi praised Otunba Oloyede’s leadership, describing him as a “progressive force” whose performance has set a standard worthy of celebration. According to him, the Oshodi–Isolo Chairman exemplifies the kind of purposeful leadership the party seeks to promote at all levels of government.
At the heart of the programme was a carefully coordinated distribution of empowerment tools and resources, provided entirely free of charge. A dedicated committee was constituted to verify beneficiaries, ensuring that assistance reached those who genuinely needed it. In a gesture that further underscored the humane spirit of the initiative, even residents who missed the initial registration were accommodated after their circumstances were assessed.
In all, hundreds of items were distributed, including 100 deep freezers, 100 grinding machines, 100 barbing kits with generating sets, 100 gas cookers with cylinders, 100 hair dryers, and 100 vulcanizing machines. In addition, beneficiaries received 100 makeup kits and POS machines, each accompanied by a ₦200,000 take-off grant to support immediate business operations.
The scale of the programme was such that its impact quickly reverberated beyond Oshodi–Isolo, dominating political conversations across Lagos State and attracting widespread media coverage. Comparisons have already been drawn with the famed empowerment initiatives of former Lagos West Senator, Adeola Olamilekan Solomon, popularly known as Yayi.Public intrigue has also followed, with many wondering how a local government chairman could mobilize such substantial resources for a single intervention. For supporters, however, the answer lies in Oloyede’s reputation as a strategic, results-driven politician—earning him the affectionate nickname “Kendoo,” the “Talk-and-Do Chairman.”
The programme continued on Saturday, as distributions resumed for those who were unable to benefit on the first day. By the end of the exercise, over 80 percent of attendees left with empowerment tools, gratitude, and renewed hope. Many openly described the Chairman as “God-sent.”
Beyond the immediate relief it provided, the empowerment initiative has sent a powerful message: local governments can indeed deliver meaningful development when leadership is driven by vision, integrity, and political will.
By all accounts, Otunba Kehinde Almaroof Oloyede has emerged as a game changer—a new face of progressive politics and a beacon of hope for the downtrodden. In Oshodi–Isolo, empowerment is no longer a slogan; it is a lived reality.
