The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly called YAYI, has announced a ₦100 million donation to the Ogun State chapter of the National Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), with a recommendation that part of the fund be used to immediately kick-start a cooperative scheme for members of the association.
Adeola made the announcement during an engagement with the leadership and executives of NATA in Ogun State, where he also pledged that the proposed cooperative would receive ₦250 million in funding if elected governor, alongside other interventions aimed at supporting automobile technicians across the state.
Adeola attended the meeting alongside his running mate, Alhaja Kudirat Adegunwa-Balogun, the Director-General of the APC Campaign Council and other party leaders and dignitaries.
Speaking at the meeting, Ogun State NATA Chairman, Alhaji Adeleke Balogun, said the association has over 67,000 registered members and presented requests bordering on empowerment, mobility, pilgrimage opportunities, healthcare facilities and the establishment and improvement of mechanic villages.
Responding, Adeola announced the ₦100 million donation and advised the association to consider putting part of the money into establishing the cooperative immediately, while deploying the balance according to its priorities.
He explained that the cooperative would provide members with access to affordable financing for their businesses and urgent financial needs.
He further pledged that, if elected, his administration would inject ₦250 million into the NATA Cooperative Society and progressively increase the fund as the scheme grows.
Adeola also announced the provision of 1,000 solar lights for mechanic villages across Ogun State, pledged a brand-new bus for the association, and promised the establishment of additional mechanic villages in areas where they are currently unavailable, while improving basic amenities in existing ones.
He further pledged a minimum of five slots for Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca and five slots for Christian pilgrimage to Jerusalem annually for members of the association if elected governor.
The senator thanked the NATA leadership for the engagement and acknowledged its declared support, saying the interventions were intended to build a sustainable relationship with members of the association and strengthen their economic opportunities.
Responding, the NATA leadership expressed appreciation for the commitments and reiterated its declared support for Adeola.
