Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has called on Corporate Organisations based in Lagos to include empowerment programmes in their Corporate Social Responsibility plans for Y2022 to promote a positive impact on the lives of the vulnerable and underprivileged persons in the State.
Sanwo-Olu stated this today at the Year 2020 Graduation Ceremony for Students from the 19 Skills Acquisition Centres in the State, held at the Skills Acquisition Centre, Isheri.
The Governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, assured that his administration will not renege on its commitment to continually invest in women empowerment, skills acquisition programmes, access to loans and provision of working tools to enable Lagosians live a better life and become self-sufficient.
He noted that the empowerment of vulnerable citizens should be the responsibility of the government, corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals.
His words: “This administration has since inception, made empowerment a priority and had increased the frequency of the programme to four times in a year to reach out to more Lagosians, specifically based on its understanding of the economic hardship that has been imposed on many individuals and families as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak”.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed further that it is the belief of his administration that the ‘Mega Empowerment Programme’ will be able to limit the negative impact of the economic situation on Lagosians and ensure that more of the residents are financially and economically independent in line with the present administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda.
He also reiterated that his administration has prioritised and dedicated resources to empowering Lagosians, especially women and youths, through the empowerment programme with a firm belief that women are powerful agents of change.
The Governor noted that the important role women play as home builders, business owners and top leaders in the professional field, makes them capable of shaping the society at the social, economic and political levels.
While congratulating the graduands, the Governor admonished them to maximise the opportunity presented and ensure they use it as a stepping stone to build businesses that will empower and employ others as well.
In her goodwill message, the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, commended the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Cecilia Bolaji Dada and the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Oluyemisi Kalesanwo for ensuring that policies of the Lagos State Government on Poverty Alleviation, Empowerment and Skills Acquisitions are sustained.
Mrs. Hamzat noted that the State Empowerment initiative has helped a lot of people in the society to maintain a reasonable standard of living, bringing food to their tables, providing steady sources of income, helping them to discover their hidden talents and giving them hope for a better future.
She, therefore, urged the graduands to make judicious use of the skills acquired for their own good and that of the society at large, saying “Please do not hesitate to empower others with your skills. You too can give a helping hand to someone, somewhere”.
Earlier in her remarks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Mrs. Cecilia Bolaji Dada, disclosed that the skills acquisition programme was designed to bridge the gap between young school leavers, the less privileged, the vulnerable, young men and women, who are not academically inclined or are not able to pursue their educational goals due to lack of funds.
She, therefore, urged the 3,262 graduates to use the opportunity provided by the State Government, to become employers of labour and generate wealth for the benefit of their families as well as Lagos communities.
“Those that have constituted themselves as security threats in the community has reinforced the government’s decision to create additional centres of 17 to 19 Skills Acquisition Centres, wherefore no fewer than 20 vocations are taught free of charge, across the five Divisions of Lagos State”, the Commissioner said.
