The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, on Thursday, presented 1050 Lagosians with various empowerment items which include Hair Dryers, Pepper Grinding Machines, Generating Sets, Sewing Machines, Popcorn production machines, Clippers, Sterilising Sets and Generators.
In his address at the empowerment programme, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, urged the beneficiaries to judiciously utilise the items, adding that the gesture was to support vulnerable citizens in the State.
He restated the commitment of the present administration to providing succour to citizens, especially in the face of daunting socio-economic challenges resulting from the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr. Governor acknowledged the contribution of women to society, pointing out that the State government will continue to focus on women by evolving supportive policies and programmes to enhance their financial status as well as that of their individual families.
According to him, “This mega empowerment programme for women and indigent citizens is a step in the right direction to fulfilling one of the many promises made to Lagosians at the inception of this current administration. One of which is to alleviate poverty in our State, through empowerment programmes targeted at people in the low-income bracket”.
“We are all conscious of the fact that empowerment programmes are an effective and pragmatic approach to empowering women for economic independence and self-reliance. Women are powerful agents of change in view of the massive role they play as home builders and change-makers, hence, our relentless commitment to ensuring that the rights of our women are protected and given equal opportunity to thrive”, he added.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Cecilia Bolaji Dada, noted that the need to confront poverty and ensure economic growth informed the empowerment programme which focused largely on women.
She described the empowerment as available to all citizens, who need it without consideration of tribe, gender, religion or political affiliation, adding that trainees of the various vocational centres unable to raise capital for take-off were targeted.
Dada further restated the commitment of the Ministry to sustainably reduce poverty through the Vocational Centres in the State offering training in 20 vocations.
