By Gbenga Ojikutu
The Nigerian Bar Association, Ado-Ekiti Branch has launched a ‘ Lawyers Market’ where staple foodstuff and other items are sold at 50 percent discounts to its members.
The foodstuff market which operated between 8am and 10am on Saturday at the Afe Babalola Bar Centre within the premises of Ekiti State High Court, Ado- Ekiti attracted a large turnout as lawyers from the branch besieged the hub to buy various staple food items.
The foodstuff available for sale were garri, rice, beans, vegetable oil, spaghetti, Semovita and vegetable oil, among other items.
The discounted prices offered a huge relief to the lawyers with a measure of garri worth N1,200 sold for N500; a measure of rice worth N3,000 sold for N1500, and a litre of vegetable oil worth N2400 sold for N1200.
A measure of beans worth N3000 also went for N1500, 1KG of Semovita worth N2000 was sold for N1000, a crate of egg worth N2500 was sold at N1250 and spaghetti was sold at N500 per one.
The market women were the association welfare secretary, Mrs Khadeejah Adeniyi and the Social Secretary, Emmanuella Akinyemi while Uzoma Aremu-Adetayo, the Financial Secretary as the payment points.
The NBA Ado-Ekiti Branch Chairman, Bar. Taiwo Omidoyin said the initiative was aimed at cushioning the effect of the high cost of living in the country on his members.
He noted that the food markets offered members of the branch a 50% discount on food items in view of the persistent hike in the price of commodities.
He explained that that there was a limit to the value of items members can buy in the food market and only financial members of the branch were allowed to patronise the food hub.
He said: “The leadership of the Branch is not unaware of the current hardship in the country and how it affects everyone, including our members. It was based on this we conceived this initiative to help mitigate the harsh economic situation on our members in our little way.
“While we may not be able to do so much at the moment,the branch bought food items from the markets and sold it to financial members at a subsidised price of 50% of public market rates. That is, items sold for N10,000 in the public market would be sold at N5,000 in the Lawyers food Market”, he added.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Bolanle Scholastica Ojo, lauded the initiative, stating the 50% discounts on food items would help in cushioning the debilitating effects of the economic hardship.
She said she got to the venue at 8:15am and was able to buy food items including rice, beans, garri and spaghetti
