More than 1,000 residents drawn from communities across the Lagos-West Senatorial District have benefited from the 2026 Annual Mega Empowerment Programme organised by Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule, sparking both commendation and public debate among constituents.

The empowerment exercise, held recently in Ikeja, brought together beneficiaries from the district’s 28 local government areas and LCDAs. The initiative forms part of the senator’s annual stakeholders’ engagement and aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises job creation, poverty reduction and economic inclusion.

Speaking at the event, Senator Adebule said the programme was designed to directly support youths, women and small-scale entrepreneurs by equipping them with practical skills, tools and start-up capital. She described the empowerment as a way of restoring hope at the grassroots while complementing broader government efforts to tackle unemployment.

According to the lawmaker, beneficiaries underwent vocational training in areas including ICT, tailoring, catering and hospitality, barbing, cosmetology and other trades before receiving starter packs to help them establish or expand their businesses. Items distributed included sewing machines, laptops, commercial mini-buses, generators, hairdressing and make-up kits, catering equipment, farming inputs and ICT tools.

She further disclosed that a segment of beneficiaries received cash grants of ₦200,000 as seed capital, while persons living with disabilities were provided with mobility support to promote inclusion.

Beyond empowerment, Senator Adebule used the occasion to highlight constituency projects executed since she assumed office in June 2023. These include the construction of primary healthcare centres in Ojo and Ifako-Ijaye, a multipurpose youth development centre in Badagry, solar streetlights across several communities, classroom blocks, boreholes, electricity transformers and security-related capacity building for traditional rulers.

However, reactions from the public have been mixed. While some residents applauded the initiative, others raised concerns about inclusiveness and sustainability.

One resident, Alexander Oluwasegun Wusu, questioned whether the empowerment programme was open to all Lagos-West residents or limited to a select group, urging political leaders to ensure transparency and fairness in beneficiary selection.

Another community voice, Babatunde Martins Sewanu, called on the senator to place stronger emphasis on long-term public infrastructure projects that benefit entire communities, noting that empowerment programmes should be balanced with visible development outcomes.

In contrast, beneficiaries like David Sunday, who participated under the ICT category, expressed appreciation. He confirmed receiving a new laptop after the programme and described the empowerment as a significant boost to his professional growth, adding that it would help him improve his technical skills and economic prospects.

The empowerment programme, which marks one of the senator’s major constituency interventions in the last two and a half years, underscores ongoing conversations in Lagos-West about representation, accountability and the most effective pathways to grassroots development.

As the district continues to assess the impact of such initiatives, residents and stakeholders are calling for broader engagement, clearer selection criteria and a balanced approach that combines empowerment with lasting public infrastructure.