Sanwo-Olu: we are empowering Lagosians to build a resilient economy

By Oyebola Owolabi

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said the government is empowering residents and indigenes to build a resilient economy befitting a modern mega city.

The governor stated this at the 2024 Micro Enterprise Support Initiative (MESI) organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA).

He said: “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 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 endeavor, provides financial support and business development services to entrepreneurs, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“This Y2024 MESI Programme is a natural progression of these combined efforts. It seeks to build upon the successes of our past initiatives by providing even more targeted support to micro-enterprises. By empowering our citizens to become entrepreneurs, we are creating jobs and also fostering a vibrant and resilient economy.”

Commissioner for WAPA Mrs. Cecila Dada, said: “This programme is tailored to reach the socio-economically disadvantaged women, indigent youths and old students of our skills acquisition centres via distribution of basic empowerment tools/equipment like tilling machine, shawarma grillers and toasters, fabricating machines, sewing, machine, basic barbing with sterilising kit and generators, hair dressing equipment etc, as poverty alleviating gesture for the vulnerable women and indigent youths.

“Distinguished guests, permit me to categorically state that this programme under this administration’s T.H.E.M.ES plus agenda was rechristened as “Micro Enterprise Support Initiative (MESI). This decision undoubtedly was borne out of the shared vision and burning desire to improve on the status quo through deliberate provisioning of economic empowerment.”