Ogidi Omo Movement Empowers Over 200 Market Women in Ijumu Arin, Holds Free Medical Outreach
By Oke Rotimi
The Ogidi Omo Movement has empowered over 200 market women across the Ijumu Arin axis of Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, while also organising a free medical outreach for residents as part of its ongoing Renewed Hope Grassroots Impact Tour.
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The programme, held at the Ekinrin-Adde Town Hall, attracted community leaders, government appointees, political stakeholders, women, youths and other residents, highlighting the Movement’s focus on grassroots development, economic empowerment and community welfare.
The empowerment initiative provided support to women engaged in petty trading and other small-scale businesses, while the accompanying medical outreach offered residents access to basic healthcare services.
Among the dignitaries at the event were the Director-General of KOSSAA, Hon. Richard Osaseyi; Special Advisers, Hon. Alex Ibikunle and Hon. Sikiru Hamza; Deacon Olusiyi Otitoju; Senior Special Assistants, Hon. Kehinde Alama, Hon. Prime Abubakar, Hon. Munirat Bint Ibrahim, Alhaji Bidemi and Hon. Sunday Ayeye; the House of Assembly candidate for Ijumu I Constituency, Hon. Femi Esemikose; Hon. Musa Mumuni; Comrade Mumuni, NULGE Chairman; and the Ijumu APC Youth Leader, Amodu Ibrahim Bolawale, among other stakeholders.
In his welcome address, the representative of the Chairman of the Steering Committee, Hon. Sikiru Hamza, welcomed the guests and participants and appreciated the convener of the Ogidi Omo Movement, Hon. Funsho Ekundayo Olumoko, PhD, for his sustained commitment to community development and the welfare of the people.
Hamza urged the beneficiaries to utilise the empowerment support to strengthen their businesses, improve their livelihoods and enhance the economic wellbeing of their families.
In his goodwill message, Deacon Olusiyi Otitoju commended the initiative and encouraged the people to continue supporting and praying for Olumoko. He also advised the beneficiaries to manage the assistance responsibly and ensure that it translated into lasting benefits for their households.
Similarly, Hon. Richard Osaseyi praised Olumoko for his consistency in community service and commitment to improving the lives of ordinary people. He urged the beneficiaries to put the support to productive use, noting the importance of initiatives that provide opportunities for people at the grassroots.
Hon. Alex Ibikunle also appreciated Olumoko for sustaining the empowerment programme and acknowledged the presence and support of his mother, fondly known as Mummy Festac. He commended the community leaders and stakeholders who attended the event and encouraged the beneficiaries to use the assistance effectively to achieve sustainable economic gains.
The women of Ijumu expressed gratitude to Olumoko for the intervention and offered special prayers for him, asking God to grant him greater strength, wisdom and success in his service to the community.
Olumoko Reaffirms 21-Year Commitment to Grassroots Development
Addressing the gathering, the convener of the Ogidi Omo Movement, Hon. Funsho Ekundayo Olumoko, FNIMN, PhD, expressed appreciation to the dignitaries, community leaders, beneficiaries, women, youths and supporters for their participation and continued confidence in the Movement’s vision.
He disclosed that the Ogidi Omo Movement was established in 2005 on the principles of unity, service, empowerment and grassroots development.
According to him, the Movement has evolved over the past 21 years from a modest community-driven initiative into a platform that continues to create opportunities and positively affect lives across Ijumu and beyond.
Olumoko explained that the founding vision was to establish a platform dedicated to serving humanity, promoting unity, creating opportunities and contributing meaningfully to the development of communities.
He stressed that leadership should be measured by its impact on people’s lives rather than the positions individuals occupy.
“For us, leadership is not about position; it is about impact, service and the ability to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our people,” he stated.
The convener reaffirmed his commitment to initiatives that promote economic empowerment, human capital development, access to basic healthcare and improved livelihoods.
He further encouraged the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunities provided through the programme, noting that the ultimate objective was to help families become more economically productive and self-reliant.
Healthcare and Economic Empowerment Take Centre Stage
The empowerment of over 200 market women constituted a major highlight of the programme, with the initiative targeting women involved in petty trading and other small-scale economic activities across the Ijumu Arin axis.
The intervention was complemented by the free medical outreach, which provided residents with access to basic healthcare services and reinforced the importance of integrating health and economic welfare into grassroots development initiatives.
The programme formed part of the Ogidi Omo Movement’s ongoing Renewed Hope Grassroots Impact Tour, through which the Movement seeks to engage communities and extend support to residents across the area.
The event ended with renewed calls for responsible use of the empowerment support and sustained collaboration among community stakeholders to improve the welfare of residents.
With the initiative, the Ogidi Omo Movement reiterated its commitment to community service, economic inclusion, human dignity and grassroots development, while marking 21 years of activities centred on empowerment and service to humanity.
DemocracyNewslineNewspaper October 9th, 2026
