L-R: Ekiti State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment, Mrs. Fola Richie-Adewusi; Wife of the state Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; and Commissioner for Commerce, Industries and Cooperatives, Chief Reim Bodunrin, during the inauguration of indigenous standard measure (Kongo) for the state's traders, in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, March 15, 2012.
The Ekiti State government has inaugurated a customised indigenous standard measure, known as Kongo in local parlance, for use by food stuff sellers across markets in the state.
The move is aimed at standardising food measures being used in the sixteen local government areas of the state, and especially to check sharp practices among traders in the markets.
Performing the inauguration, wife of the state governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, stressed that the step was also in conformity to the policy and guidelines of the National Council of Commerce and Industry.
As part of efforts to ensure the availability of the new measure in the nooks and crannies of the state, the governor’s wife said that the Ekiti Development Foundation, which she founded, would purchase 5000 pieces and distribute them free to the traders.
With the introduction of the new measure, which has unique features, she said that adulterated measures that flocked the markets have been phased out.
The green bowl has the logo of Ekiti, the coat of arm and Ekiti State Government ingrained on its base and rim.
The governor’s wife said, “This administration is known for transparency and probity, which does not encourage cheating. The government, therefore, deems it necessary to produce this standard measure to eradicate cheating and sharp practices in our markets.”
She reaffirmed the value the Dr. Kayode Fayemi-led administration placed on women and pledged that the government would continue to do all within its resources to enhance the living standards of the
people.
Disclosing that government would soon introduce half of the measure launched on Thursday, she enjoined the traders to give wide publicity to the use and sale of the kongo in markets across the state.
The First Lady pledged the continued support of the EDF for the success of the project, which she said was to ensure that the citizenry had value for their money.
In his welcome remarks, the Commissioner for Commerce, Industries and Cooperatives, Chief Reim Bodunrin, stressed the commitment of the administration to service delivery to the people.The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment, Mrs Fola Richie-Adewusi commended the Fayemi-led administration for allowing the standard measure see the light of the day. Adewusi implored stakeholders to assist government to enforce the use of the kongo so that the effort of government would not be futile.
The highpoint of the ceremony was the free distribution of the standard measure to the market women by the First Lady.
Last modified: March 15, 2012
