Lagos State Department of Women’s Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) launched its second Y2022 Mega Empowerment program, known as Micro-Enterprise Support Initiative (MESI), for 1500 needy, vulnerable women, youth and wives of fallen heroes from the 20 local governments and 37 Local government development areas of the state.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, speaking at the Empowerment Program at Isheri Skills Acquisition Centre, Olowoira-Berger, stated that MESI is a unique intervention program designed to help vulnerable and needy women across the state to gain financial independence.
According to information gathered by The Info Page News on the Lagos State website, Sanwo-Olu, represented by State Government Secretary Ms. Sherifat Folashade Jaji, said that empowerment is the state’s social intervention program to empower the beneficiaries to make independent.
“Today we are equipping needy and vulnerable women with tools of work through our social intervention program.
The initiative aims to ensure that participants are empowered to be self-reliant so they can support their families and contribute their quota to the Greater Lagos vision,” said the Governor.
While reiterating the need for more entrepreneurial development strategies, Sanwo-Olu announced that the intervention program has been increased to four times a year to improve the financial capacity of vulnerable people across the state.
In her address, Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Ms. Cecilia Bolaji Dada, informed that the Ministry will remain focused on alleviating the plight of women in Lagos State, to transform them into highly resourceful, financially empowered and self-reliant individuals.
Dada said, “The focus of the initiative remains the grassroots level, and WAPA remains steadfast in its efforts to financially empower many community residents through its many empowerment programs.”
The commissioner therefore urged all residents, particularly those who are unemployed or underemployed, to enroll in one of the 19 Skills Acquisition Centers (SACs) in Lagos State’s five divisions, which offer more than 20 Skills Acquisition training programs for periods ranging from six to 12 months.
Also, the Secretary of State, Ms. Oluyemi Kalesanwo, stated that WAPA is committed to empowering vulnerable women through its various skills acquisition centers to alleviate poverty and eliminate sexual and gender-based violence throughout the Lagos metropolitan area.
“Women play a very crucial and pivotal role in shaping society, hence the desire of the state government to intensify its efforts to initiate policies and programs to empower women for sustainable economic and social development,” she said.
For his part, the head of the Nigerian Legion in Lagos State, Colonel Samuel Fola Akande (rtd.), thanked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for supporting the families of former soldiers who died fighting for Nigeria’s unity.
He thanked the Governor for staying true to his words and welcomed the initiative aimed at empowering women to become financially independent and contribute to the economic development of Lagos State from home.
Various strengthening materials such as grinders, cassava cutters, presses and fryers, sewing machines, hair dryers, barbing kits with sterilizers and generators, and other professional tools were distributed to 1,500 participants.
