WOMEN EMPOWERMENT: Lagos Government Train, Empowers 250 Ikosi-Isheri Women On Skill Acquisition.

Mrs. Abolanle Bada.

Over 250 women in Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area of Lagos State were on Tuesday offered certificates of competence and given start-up kits after successful completion of a one month free skill acquisition training programme,organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Delivering her address during the closing ceremony of the short term training programme at the premises of Ikosi primary school, venue of the training, the Commissioner For Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Lagos State,Mrs Cecilia Abolaji Dada said the Lagos State Government under the leadership of Babajide Sanwo-Olu embarked on different initiatives that ensure financial independence for women which is a critical step to taking charge of their lives.

The Commissioner added that this underscored the reason why the present administration has taken women empowerment as one of its focal policies in order to mitigate the effects of poverty prevalent especially among women in the state.

Mrs Bolaji-Dada disclosed that the event is one in a series of four being organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in the state,as another one has been planned to take place in Yaba LCDA,Amuwo Odofin Local Government and Lekki LCDA respectively this week, where 250 women each will benefit from the short term skill acquisition training in diverse vocations and at the end of the exercise, they will receive free start-up kits to enable them begin to make a living from the vocations learned.

She submitted that the objective of the initiative is to train vulnerable women,young women, indigent single mothers and internally displaced women and men alike in various skills and vocations for the purpose of economic empowerment and lifting of their status, from the state of dependence to self reliance,thereby making the beneficiaries contributors to family and societal development.

The commissioner congratulated the beneficiaries for successful completion of the training programme and urged them to avail themselves the opportunity of accessing available funds through the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund to enable them expand their businesses towards achieving better living conditions for themselves.

Some of the vocations learned by the beneficiaries include Beads making and Stringing, Events and Hall Decoration, Tie and Dye, Catering, Hat Making, Soap and Pomade Making, Insecticide production among others.

Earlier in her goodwill address, the Executive Chairman of Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area, Princess Samiat Abolanle Bada commended Governor Sanwo-Olu and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation for fulfilling another promise to residents of Lagos through the T.H.E.M.E agenda of the government.

She added that her administration appreciated the good gesture of the Lagos state government of counting the women in the council area worthy beneficiaries of the empowerment and training programme..

The Mayoress,as she is popularly called appealed to the beneficiaries to allow the knowledge and skills acquired during the training to have positive impact in their lives and the society at large.

She submitted that since the inception of her administration six months ago, women and the youth have been the major beneficiaries of the administration empowerment programme.

Among dignitaries who attended the ceremony, where all protocols of the Covid-19 pandemic were strictly observed include, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation,Mrs Oluyemi Kalesanwo, Vice Chairman of Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, Alhaji Mukail  Adisa, Secretary to the council, Engr. Dolapo Bashiru, Leader of the council's Legislative Arm,Hon. Usman Ajibola Akanni, other elected councilors, Supervisors, the Council Manager, Prince Sunday Adegbola Olujobi and some Management Staff.