The Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) has held its second Y2022 Mega Empowerment programme, known as the Micro-Enterprise Support Initiative (MESI), for 1500 indigent, vulnerable women, youths and wives of fallen heroes from the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the State.
Speaking at the empowerment programme held in Isheri Skills Acquisition Centre, Olowoira-Berger, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, explained that MESI is a unique intervention programme designed for vulnerable and indigent women across the State to help them attain financial independence.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Sherifat Folashade Jaji, said that empowerment is the State’s social intervention programme to make beneficiaries self-reliant.
“Today, we are empowering indigent and vulnerable women with working tools through our social intervention programme. The initiative aims to ensure that participants are empowered to be self-reliant so that they can support their families and contribute their quota towards the Greater Lagos vision”, the Governor said.
While reiterating the need for more entrepreneurial developmental strategies, Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the intervention programme has been increased to four times a year to enhance the financial capability of more vulnerable people across the State.
In her address, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Cecilia Bolaji Dada, informed that the Ministry will remain focused on easing the plight of women in Lagos State in a bid to transform them into highly resourceful persons, who are financially capable and self-dependent.
Dada said: “The focal point of the initiative remains the grassroots level and WAPA is unwavering in its efforts to financially liberate many community dwellers through its numerous empowerment programmes”.
The Commissioner, therefore, called on all residents, particularly unemployed or the underemployed, to enrol in any of the 19 Skills Acquisition Centres (SACs) across the five Divisions of Lagos State, offering more than 20 Skills Acquisition training programmes for the duration of six to 12 months.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Oluyemi Kalesanwo, stated that WAPA is determined to empower vulnerable women, through its various skills acquisition centres, towards poverty alleviation and eradication of sexual and gender-based violence across the Lagos metropolis.
“Women have a very crucial and central role to play in shaping the society, hence, the desire of the State government to intensify its efforts on initiating policies and programmes for the empowerment of women for sustainable economic and social development”, she said.
On his part, the Lagos State Chairman of Nigerian Legion, Colonel Samuel Fola Akande (rtd.) expressed gratitude to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for extending support to family members of ex-service personnel who died fighting for Nigeria’s unity.
He thanked Mr. Governor for being true to his words and applauded the initiative, which is aimed at empowering women to become financially independent and contribute to the economic development of Lagos State from their homes.
Various empowerment materials such as Grinding Machines, Cassava Cutter, Presser and Fryer, Sewing machines, Hair-dryers, Barbing kits with Sterilizers and Generators, among other vocational tools, were distributed to 1500 participants.
