LAGOS (SUNDIATA POST)- Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has reiterated his administration’s commitment to the empowerment of vulnerable women and youths, saying that it is crucial for socio-economic development.
He said this on Wednesday at the 2024 Micro Enterprise Support Initiative (MESI) outreach held at Ikeja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the MESI was implemented through the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) to cater for women and youths.
“Programmes such as this show our administration’s commitment to consistently empower residents of the state, in order to create an inclusive and prosperous society.
“Initiatives like MESI and our skills acquisition centres are working diligently to provide the necessary support for our citizens to thrive.
“This Micro Enterprise Support Initiative is designed to uplift vulnerable women and indigent youths by providing them with the tools and support they need to start and grow their own businesses.
“By empowering this segment of our population, we aim to continue to stimulate economic growth, reduce poverty, and create a more inclusive Lagos,” the governor said.
He commended WAPA for keying into the vision of the state T.H.E.M.E.S plus agenda, saying that it had brought remarkable development
“WAPA is at the forefront of uplifting women and the indigent, providing them with the necessary tools to break free from the chains of poverty.
“Their efforts, complemented by the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, have yielded remarkable results in youth empowerment, skill acquisition, and job creation.
“Furthermore, the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), a strategic partner in this endeavour, provides financial support and business development services to entrepreneurs, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“I commend the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Bolaji Dada, and her team for their tireless effort in ensuring that this programme continues to gain momentum, reach every nook of our society and make sure that no-one is left behind,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu urged the beneficiaries to make the best of the opportunity given to them to be financially independent.
“To the beneficiaries of today’s programme, I offer my sincere congratulations. I urge you to make judicious use of this opportunity and resources.
“These equipment are not given as gifts to be kept away, but they are tools to make you economically and financially independent, and become worthy ambassadors of this great state.
“I advise you to put what you have learnt to good use and become financially independent and employers of labour. I assure you that we will continue to monitor and support you and your businesses, as we have been doing for the beneficiaries before you,” the governor said.
Mrs Bolaji Dada, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, said that the programme was established to ensure that all residents of Lagos State benefitted.
“This programme is tailored to reach out to the socioeconomically disadvantaged women, indigent youths and old students of our skills acquisition centres.
“It will uplift the beneficiaries via distribution of basic empowerment tools/equipment like tiling machine, shawarma grillers and toasters, fabricating machines, sewing machines, among others.
“As poverty alleviating gesture for the vulnerable women and indigent youths, permit me to categorically state that this programme under this administration’s T.H.E.M.ES plus agenda was rechristened as MESI.
“This decision undoubtedly was borne out of your shared hybrid vision and burning desire to improve on the status quo through deliberate provisioning of economic empowerment assets for our teeming vulnerable women and indigent youths,” the commissioner said.
She applauded the governor for his continuous support for residents of the state.
She said that it was also imperative to emphasis that Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s passion for the general upliftment of the teeming masses remained unparalleled in humanitarian gesture and socio-economic interventions as a State.
“This is evidenced by the yearly geometric increase in the budgetary allocation, approval and releases of funds for this programme over the last five years.
“As Oliver Twist, we are asking for more as this also serves as palliative to help raise the status of people from dependency to independency,” she said.
Some of the tools distributed include cake mixer machine, aluminium fabrication machine, two-phase burner with 12.5kg gas cylinder, 30 inches cooking pot plus two giant spoons for caterers, shawarma toasters, manicure and pedicure sets in bags, barbing kits, tile laying machine etc.
In addition to the above mentioned expanded product line, the ministry is also going to give out over 200 Point of Service (POS) machines to some beneficiaries with start-up funds and free registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). (NAN)