Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusive governance, saying the government’s empowerment programmes are designed to create opportunities for residents to become economically self-reliant.
He made the remarks at the graduation ceremony and presentation of working tools and financial support to 3,792 beneficiaries of the state’s Micro Enterprise Support Initiative (MESI).
Sanwo-Olu said his administration had consistently prioritised the welfare and economic advancement of Lagos residents through various empowerment and skills acquisition programmes.
According to him, more than 35,101 residents have been trained through the state’s tuition-free Skills Acquisition Centres, while 18,990 beneficiaries have received business start-up equipment under the MESI programme.
He described the initiative as one of the clearest demonstrations of his administration’s commitment to inclusive governance.
“The strength of any government is measured not merely by the size of its economy or the scale of its infrastructure, but by how many lives it touches and how many people it empowers to succeed.
“This programme is more than the distribution of tools and equipment; it is the fulfilment of our promise to give our people the means to create wealth, build sustainable businesses, generate employment and achieve financial independence.
“Today alone, 3,792 beneficiaries will receive empowerment tools and equipment to strengthen their businesses, improve their livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to the economic growth of our state.”
The governor noted that over the past seven years, his administration had matched its promises with tangible actions through strategic investments in infrastructure, transportation, healthcare, education, technology, security, social protection and enterprise development.
“We have continued to build a Lagos that works for everyone. At the same time, we have deliberately invested in our people because the greatest legacy of any government is not the projects it builds but the lives it transforms,” he added.
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Bolaji Cecilia Dada, said the Sanwo-Olu administration believes that true leadership is about creating opportunities rather than fostering dependency.
She said every empowerment package distributed under the programme represents renewed hope, restored dreams and increased confidence in the ability of beneficiaries to achieve success through hard work and determination.
According to the commissioner, the ministry is committed to promoting gender equality, social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic empowerment across urban, rural and riverine communities in Lagos State.
“Our mission is to formulate and implement policies and programmes that promote gender equality, social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic empowerment through strategic partnerships and innovative interventions,” she said.
Dada explained that the Micro Enterprise Support Initiative was designed to bridge the gap between vocational training and business start-up by providing graduates with the equipment needed to establish sustainable livelihoods.
She added that since the inception of the Sanwo-Olu administration, the ministry’s interventions have continued to make a significant impact on the lives of residents across the state through various empowerment programmes.
