The Chairman of Abeokuta North Local Government, Lanre Oyegbola Sodipo, on Tuesday launched an electric-bike empowerment scheme in partnership with mobility company MAX, with a target of engaging 1,000 youths in transportation and promoting self-reliance.
Speaking at the launch and presentations of the e-bike to the beneficiarie, Sodipo said the initiative was designed to create employment opportunities, improve livelihoods and enable beneficiaries to become business owners rather than depend on financial handouts.
The chairman said the local government facilitated the partnership to make the electric bikes accessible to residents seeking sustainable means of livelihood.
“One of the commitments that we have is to find ways of creating opportunities. We believe that we can redistribute growth by looking for opportunities that allow individuals to become their own employers and control their means of livelihood,” he said.
Sodipo explained that the initiative was a direct collaboration between MAX and the beneficiaries, stressing that the local government’s role was to facilitate access to the opportunity and ensure that the programme was viable.
He disclosed that about 100 beneficiaries named Champions were being targeted in the first phase, adding that the local government hoped to expand the scheme to accommodate at least 1,000 participants in the nearest future.
“At the launch, we are about 100. The focus is for us to reach 1,000 in the nearest possible time,” he said.
The chairman said the scheme also incorporated safety and health insurance provisions to protect riders and passengers in the event of accidents. He explained that the arrangement was intended to reduce the financial burden associated with medical emergencies.
“Insurance is one of those things you pray you will not need. But suddenly, you may find yourself in a situation where ₦20,000 or ₦30,000 would have saved the day for something that would have cost you a million naira,” Sodipo said.
He urged the beneficiaries to prioritise safety, operate responsibly and make their fares competitive, noting that electric bikes could reduce operating costs compared with petrol-powered motorcycles. He also encouraged them to leverage the lower running costs to attract more passengers.
Sodipo further said the initiative aligned with efforts to promote cleaner energy and reduce environmental pollution, adding that electric mobility could contribute to easing transportation costs and the wider cost of living if operators passed some of their savings to commuters.
He urged young people to embrace productive ventures instead of relying on handouts, citing previous skills-acquisition programmes through which residents were trained in paint production and application, as well as Adire fabric-making.
“What I didn't promise you is that I am going to open the local government vaults and carry the money and be distributing it. When you give a man, instead of giving him fish, teach him how to fish, I believe this is the biggest empowerment that we are doing for young people,” he said.
In his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the Chairman on Skill Acquisition and Enterprise Development and General Manager of OGOO Multipurpose Ventures,
Adeosun Azeez (Father) described the launch of an electric-bike initiative by the local government as one aimed at creating employment opportunities for youths.
The SSA / GM described Ogun Multipurpose Ventures as a subsidiary company owned by the local government. He said the programme reflected the chairman’s commitment to youth empowerment and enterprise development, adding, “He is a man who always has concern for youths, especially when it comes to enterprise development and job employment at large.”
He said the launch also marked the beginning of a partnership with Max Company to provide job opportunities for young people. “The partnership today, in brief, is an initiative of the chairman to give employment to those among our youths who need it,” Azeez said. He added that the electric bike being introduced was different from conventional motorcycles.
Also speaking, the Head of Operations at MAX, Aderonke Olubowale, said the electric bikes offered economic, safety and operational benefits. She explained that the battery-swapping system allowed riders to replace depleted batteries at designated stations in about two minutes, eliminating the need to wait for conventional charging.
Olubowale said the bikes could cover between 70 and 90 kilometres, depending on the weight carried, while their operating modes allowed riders to control speed. She advised riders against excessive speeding and said the vehicles offered an environmentally friendly alternative to petrol-powered motorcycles.
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