As part of efforts to alleviate the hardship being experienced by the people of Ondo state in the face of the current economic downturn, a Non-Governmental Organisation, Dr. Rhoda Makinde Initiative (DROMI), has organised a free open market for women in Ondo East / West Local Government Areas of the state.
The organization, DROMI in collaboration with Hon. Abiola Makinde, a member of the House of Representatives, said the programme was part of efforts to alleviate economic hardship in the rural areas, especially in the Ondo communities and its environs.
Speaking during the events where thousands of women from the two local government benefitted from the free open market for women, Dr. Mrs. Rhoda Makinde, said that the programme was borne out of a desire to cushion the effect of the prevailing economic hardship on women.
She said the programme is not only being organized in Ondo East and West Federal Constituency alone but also in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Dr. Makinde said the initiative is to make food available to women as much as possible while the beneficiaries picked shopping baskets each as they moved round to pick groceries and raw food items for free.
The items at the open market include, rice, yams, beans, garri, spaghetti, noodles, raw cow and goat meats fish, plantains, vegetables, onions, tomatoes, pepper, vegetable oil, palm oil, soaps,
The items also include cloth materials, electronic appliances such as pressing iron, and blender among others.
While addressing the women and beneficiaries of the programme, the House of Representative member Hon. Abiola Makinde stressed the importance of the programme, saying that he decided to join hands with his wife because of the economic challenges the residents are facing.
The beneficiaries who expressed their joy and satisfaction towards the programme implored spirited individuals to emulate the couple in putting smiles to faces of the women in the area
While speaking, 54-year-old Mrs. Mopelola Akinbobola expressed joy, saying “This Open Free Market initiative has never happened in the history of Ondo.”
She, however, prayed for the lawmaker and his wife, urging other individuals to emulate the couple, saying a lot of people are affected by the hardship.
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