Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has empowered about 11,885 start- up businesses in the last four years with an assurance of more attention to the micro enterprises in driving economic development of the state.
The beneficiaries of the scheme are the indigent, vulnerable and graduates of the skills acquisition centres in the state.
Speaking at the 2024 Lagos State Micro-Enterprise Support Initiative (MESI) organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation at the Blue Roof, Ikeja, Governor Sanwo-Olu who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, said the whole essence is to alleviate the economic plight of the Lagos citizens.
He commended the ministry for driving the commendable efforts of his administration’s economic development and poverty eradication strategy through the programme as he urged youths in the state to key into numerous empowerment schemes aimed at making life more meaningful for Lagosians.
“Our administration’s recognition of the pivotal role of micro enterprises in driving economic development, reducing poverty, and generating employment, led to its prioritization for support to create more job opportunities, and foster innovation for accelerated growth.
“This initiative is a tangible demonstration of our commitment to addressing the plight of the less privileged who are facing significant challenges in their daily lives. It is also a practical demonstration of our social inclusion policy geared towards ensuring that no one is left behind in our collective journey to the Greater Lagos of our dreams.
“Today, many of you will receive support in the form of milling machines, sewing machines, hair-dryers, barbing clippers with sterilising units, generators, pop-corn machines, shawarma grills, toasting machines, snail pens, industrial cookers, tile laying machines and garri processing equipment to aid the realisation of the economic aspirations of the most vulnerable people.
Earlier, the commissioner for women affairs and poverty alleviation, Mrs Cecilia Bolaji Dada, congratulated the beneficiaries while restating the state government’s commitment to zero tolerance on idleness of any form, stressing that the state would continue to empower individuals and groups to excel in their different endeavours.
Dada said about 700 graduands of the state skill acquisition centres as well as others drawn from the five divisions of Lagos State considering their vulnerability for financial sustainability, using the Lagos State Social Register domicile in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget of the state were the beneficiaries of this year’s event.
