Shekoni-Balogun To Empower Indigent Lagos Community Residents To Mark 70th Birthday

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Tarzan Jetties and Tarzan Maritime Enterprises, and President of the National Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria (ATBOWATON), Engr. Ganiyu Shekoni-Balogun, has announced plans to lift indigent residents of Badore and its environs out of poverty through a large-scale empowerment programme in commemoration of his 70th birthday.

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Speaking during a chat with journalists on Monday, Shekoni-Balogun said the initiative was designed to support small businesses within the community and create lasting economic impact, rather than host a lavish birthday celebration.

According to him, the programme will channel significant financial support directly to artisans, traders, students, and other vulnerable groups.

He explained that the gesture was part of his gratitude to God for life and good health, adding that beneficiaries will be selected fairly, without bias to religion, ethnicity, gender, or any other affiliation.

The Tarzan Jetties boss noted that beneficiaries will receive start-up grants and essential equipment to help improve productivity and transform livelihoods, saying the goal is not only to improve individual living conditions but also to strengthen households.

“Beyond direct empowerment, financial grants will also be provided to market women, men, and artisans to boost their businesses,” he said.

He further stated that the focus remains on indigent residents of Badore, which serves as a key operational base for his organisations, describing the initiative as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment to the host community.

Shekoni-Balogun added that the programme reflects his belief that investing in people is central to sustainable development.

A Badore resident, Mr. Kayode Adegunwa, who spoke on the initiative, said the Tarzan boss has consistently supported members of the community in various ways over time, noting that his interventions were not limited to birthday celebrations but part of a continuous commitment to community development. He added that residents were eagerly anticipating the empowerment programme.

Adegunwa also noted that unemployment remained a major challenge in the area, expressing optimism that the initiative would promote economic self-reliance and potentially create new employers of labour.

He reaffirmed the community’s willingness to collaborate with the organisations in promoting their achievements and highlighting their contributions to local development.

He further described Tarzan Jetties and Tarzan Maritime Enterprises as key drivers of infrastructural development, job creation, and economic growth in Badore and its environs, commending their consistent CSR interventions.

Shekoni-Balogun reiterated that the initiative reflects his organisations’ commitment to giving back to society, stressing that supporting host communities and promoting socio-economic development remain central to their operations.