The Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening collaboration with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) to enhance access to funding, financial literacy, and enterprise support for women across the State.
This assurance was given by the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Bolaji Cecilia Dada, while receiving the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, Mrs. Feyisayo Alayande, and her team during a courtesy visit to the Ministry on Tuesday, 10th February 2026.
Welcoming the LSETF team, Hon. Dada appreciated the Executive Secretary for sustaining the journey of empowerment through impactful programmes that support entrepreneurs, artisans, and small business owners across Lagos State. She described the collaboration as long overdue and strategic to the economic advancement of women.
The Commissioner noted that WAPA currently operates 19 Skills Acquisition Centres (SACs) across the State and the Women Development Centre, with structured curricula developed by the Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB).
She urged LSETF to align some of its capacity-building initiatives with the Ministry’s training framework to ensure that graduating students are adequately prepared to meet funding requirements before completing their programmes.
“We want our students to understand the requirements for accessing support before graduation. While the Ministry strives to provide start-up equipment to our graduates, it is not always possible to meet every need. LSETF can complement our efforts by engaging and supporting some of our graduates through structured funding and business support initiatives,” she stated.
The Commissioner also highlighted WAPA’s life skills and empowerment platforms, including programmes targeted at vulnerable groups, faith-based organisations, parents of out-of-school children, wives of military personnel, retiring civil servants, etc, encouraging LSETF to explore collaboration in these areas to broaden impact.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Secretary of LSETF, Mrs. Feyisayo Alayande, commended WAPA for its openness, transparency, and consistent commitment to women’s empowerment. She emphasised the importance of providing greater visibility for LSETF programmes, particularly among women trained in WAPA centres.
Mrs. Alayande disclosed that the LSETF application portal has recently been reopened and encouraged intending applicants to register and ensure they possess the required documentation, including: LASRRA ID,
LIRS Tax Identification Number (TIN), National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN)
She further proposed the introduction of structured financial literacy and bookkeeping sessions for beneficiaries and intending applicants as part of business development and company-building support.
According to her, improving financial literacy levels will enhance loan performance, sustainability, and market access for women entrepreneurs.
The Executive Secretary noted that LSETF has previously supported women in non-traditional trades such as female tilers and expressed readiness to work with WAPA in identifying and recommending qualified trainees for future opportunities. She also referenced past “on-the-spot” loan interventions and reiterated LSETF’s commitment to ensuring that its programmes effectively support WAPA beneficiaries.
Both agencies agreed to collaborate on organising sensitisation and financial education sessions across WAPA’s Skills Acquisition Centres to guide potential applicants on eligibility requirements, documentation, bookkeeping, and access to markets.
The meeting also explored areas of partnership for the forthcoming International Women’s Day celebration, with both parties committing to leveraging the platform to expand economic empowerment opportunities for women in Lagos State.
The strengthened collaboration between WAPA and LSETF underscores the Lagos State Government’s resolve under the leadership of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu to promote inclusive economic growth, enhance financial independence, and reduce poverty among women and vulnerable groups.
Present at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary (WAPA), Mrs. Rianat Ajibike Onigbanjo, Directors of the Ministry, and the Director of Programme and Coordination, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, Ms. Oyindamola Egbeyemi.
