Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday empowered scores of vulnerable and indigent residents with chosen tools, including stoning machines, pepper grinders, sewing machines, and hair dryers, among others, saying that his administration remained steadfast in its commitment to initiatives that promote inclusivity, economic empowerment, and poverty alleviation within the state.
Other tools that beneficiaries were empowered with include barbing kits (including clippers, sterilisers, and generators), standing facial steamers, aluminium cutting machines, 2-phase burners (including 30-inch cooking pots and 12.5 kg cylinders), cake mixers, welding machines, agricultural items (fertilisers, knapsacks, and seeds), and cash grants.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said this at the Year 2024 Micro Enterprise Support Initiative (MESI) Program, organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), at the De Blue Roof, Agidingbi-Ikeja, assuring that his administration was determined to build a Lagos where everyone had a fair chance to succeed and thrive.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, noted that the 2024 micro-enterprise support initiative was another testament to his administration’s unwavering commitment to creating a Greater Lagos where every citizen can thrive and contribute meaningfully to its collective progress.
The governor said that the overwhelming success of the first edition made it an easy decision to approve the second phase within the same year, pointing out that the initiative spoke volumes about his administration’s commitment to creating opportunities, reducing poverty, and nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit that defined the people.
“The initiative speaks volumes about the government’s commitment to creating opportunities, reducing poverty, and nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit that defines the people,” he said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu reiterated that the MESI Program goes beyond financial support, emphasising that the initiative was about building a foundation for self-reliance, boosting economic growth, and unleashing the potential of women.
According to him, it ensures that every woman, regardless of her background or circumstances, has access to the tools and resources needed to transform her life, her community, and Lagos State at large, adding that the initiative equally underscored that through skill acquisition, capacity building, and financial empowerment, his government was creating a future where poverty becomes history and prosperity becomes a reality.
The governor, while addressing the beneficiaries, said that they were an integral part of his administration’s vision, urging them to seize the opportunity with both hands and use the available resources wisely to grow their businesses, improve their livelihoods, and inspire others in their communities.
“Remember, this programme is a stepping stone to even greater achievements, and your success contributes to the larger success of Lagos State,” he admonished.
The State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Bolaji Cecilia Dada, in her welcome address, urged the beneficiaries to seize the moment, embrace the opportunities laid before them, and work tirelessly towards achieving their entrepreneurial dreams.
The commissioner, while highlighting the different tools and equipment being distributed to the beneficiaries as empowerment, noted that the tools were carefully chosen to meet the diverse needs of entrepreneurs.
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