Tag: Wasiu Eshinlokun

Ahead of the upcoming local government elections in Lagos State, the Senator representing Lagos Central at the National Assembly, Wasiu Eshinlokun, has donated N105 million to support all Chairmanship, Vice Chairmanship, and Councillorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Lagos Central Senatorial District.

Speaking during the cheque presentation at the Lagos Central Senatorial District Party Secretariat in Ikoyi,  Eshilokun described the gesture as a reflection of his commitment to grassroots democracy and the need to empower candidates to focus on their campaigns without being burdened by financial constraints.

 “This support is not just about funding; it is about ensuring that our candidates can focus on what truly matters; engaging with the people, sharing their vision, and securing victory for our great party,” he said.

According to him, each of the 13 Chairmanship candidates received N2.5 million, while N2 million was presented to each of the 13 party chairmen across the local government areas. Additionally, the 93 councillorship candidates were each allocated N500,000. The funds were disbursed directly to the beneficiaries -chairmanship and party chairmen through manager’s cheques, and councillorship candidates via direct bank transfers.

“I was assisted by many during my own campaigns. This is my way of giving back and supporting those now aspiring for public office. I know this is not enough, and they will still need to seek additional support, but it’s a worthy start, he added.

He urged the candidates not to be complacent or overly reliant on the party’s dominance at the federal and state levels.

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“We have the president, we have the governor, but that’s not an excuse to relax. Go out, work hard, and earn the people’s trust,” he said.

APC Lagos State Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, described the donation as a “noble gesture” and commended the Senator’s commitment to party building and grassroots mobilisation.

“This shows he’s with the people and wants to remove the financial burden from the backs of the candidates. It will energise them to meet the electorate and win their support,” Ojelabi said.

He noted that the donation, coupled with the visible achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, would strengthen the party’s chances in the July elections.

“From the student loan scheme to the coastal road project, the Renewed Hope agenda is yielding results. Now, it’s time to consolidate and ensure that those gains reflect at the grassroots,” he added.

Chairman of the Lagos Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), Prince Tajudeen Olusi, also lauded the gesture, describing it as a timely and commendable show of leadership by Senator Eshilokun.

“This is a great example of party loyalty and support. It will boost morale and encourage others to do the same. We appreciate his unwavering commitment to the party,” Prince Olusi said.

Vice Chairmanship candidate for Lagos Island Local Government, Olatunji Aru-folami, described the donation as a welcome and unprecedented move that reflects Senator Eshilokun’s deep commitment to the party and its grassroots candidates.

“It’s a novel idea. We’ve not seen this before, and it shows our senator truly cares. Finance is usually a big constraint, so this support is commendable,” he said.

He stressed the need for door-to-door campaigns to counter misinformation and boost voter turnout.

“Turnout has been low in past elections. We must engage people directly and remind them that this government came in during a tough time but is making progress. There’s hope,” he added.

The Senator representing Lagos Central at the National Assembly, Wasiu Eshinlokun, has reiterated his commitment to youth empowerment and educational support, as he awarded scholarships to 261 students across 13 local government areas during his 7th Town Hall Meeting held at Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos Island.

With the theme: “My Strategic Progressive Stewardship in the 10th Senate Thus Far,” the event served as both a platform for constituency engagement and a continuation of the scholarship scheme instituted by his predecessor, Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

Eshinlokun said the scheme was designed to ease the financial burden on parents and ensure that no child is denied education due to poverty.

He described his journey in the 10th Senate as “eventful,” while acknowledging the influence and legacy of his predecessor, the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

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“We thank God for His mercies and protections over the years, and we must also thank my predecessor, the First Lady of the Republic, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for laying this impactful path. The town hall meeting has become a well-accepted tradition in Lagos Central, and we are building on the foundation she set”, he added.

Highlighting what made this year’s edition particularly significant, Eshinlokun noted that the number of scholarship beneficiaries had more than doubled from the previous year.

“Last year, we supported about 120 to 130 students. This year, we are doing 261. It is a remarkable increase, and we can only thank God for the ability to do this,” he said.

Each student received a scholarship worth N100,000, aimed at easing the financial burdens of tuition and educational materials.

According to the senator, the selection process was competitive and transparent.

“The selection cuts across the various 13 local governments and we formed a screening panel, headed by Honourable Kabir Adekanbi and they were the ones that did the interview. They were invited, they collected form, which we advertised, and they invited them for interview, and they gave them criteria.

 You bring your results, you are doing well. You are at least in 200 level. If you are above 18, you have your INEC card. It is not just about giving money—it is about supporting committed students and encouraging civic responsibility”, he explained.

In his advice to the beneficiaries, he urged them to focus on their academics. “Read your books, be smart, and continue to pass your exams. We wish you all the best there is,” he said.

Chairman of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Prince Tajudeen Olusi, commended Eshinlokun for the initiative.

He described the initiative as a laudable demonstration of responsible leadership and commitment to human capital development.

According to him, ‘Eshinlokun’s act of generosity’ would go a long way in reducing the financial burden on parents and giving hope to bright, underprivileged students.

“This is what leadership should look like—impacting lives directly and helping to build a future generation through education,” he added.

Member representing Lagos Island Constituency 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Princess Lara Oyekan-Olumegbon, emphasised the value of the initiative, which she noted has been passed down through committed leaders.

“This is not a one-off. It is a legacy initiative that Senator Eshinlokun inherited from Senator Oluremi Tinubu. And I also do something in that line. It’s not just about the money. You’re making an impact in their educational life. There’s a saying: if you think education is expensive, try ignorance”, she said.

She also stressed the need for young people to take ownership of their roles as citizens. “Every time you say ‘Nigeria is this, Nigeria is that,’ remember: we are the government. The change starts with you.”

One of the beneficiaries, Lawal Mutiat, described the experience as encouraging and the process as fair. “The forms were shared via WhatsApp platforms. We submitted our documents at the Yaba office, and then we were invited for interviews. The N100,000 is going to help with my school fees and other important things,” she noted.