Women Empowerment: Commissioner Calls For Private Organisations’ Involvement

The Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Bolaji Dada, has called on the private sector, well-meaning individuals and organisations to support initiatives and ideas targeted at empowering women and young persons.

Dada made the call on Friday at the launch of a workshop on Personal Home Shopping Business for beginners organised by Easy Shop Easy Cook Services Limited at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Alausa, Ikeja.

She said that the programme was aimed at providing training and mentorship to about 200 women on personal home shopping business, wealth creation, financial inclusion and job creation.

While appreciating the effort and gesture of the organisers of the programme, the Commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Oluyemi Kalesanwo, urged the beneficiaries of the empowerment initiative to tap from the opportunities to engage in profitable ventures and contribute to the socio-economic progress of the society.

She maintained that the support of government institutions, local and international companies are vital to the development of entrepreneurial initiatives among women in every sector.

Speaking on the various empowerment initiatives of the State Government, Mrs. Dada disclosed that the State government, a few days ago, flagged off a four-week, short term, skill acquisition training programme for some selected women.

“I wish to inform us that presently, the State government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation on Monday 9th September, 2019 flagged off four weeks, short term, skill acquisition training programme for faith-based/cultural women organisations – Ansar-Ud-Deen women faithful, 1004 Anglican Community, Federation of Muslim women and Women from the Eastern part of the country,” she stated.

The Commissioner also added that the Ministry has skills acquisition programmes wherein women and young persons are trained and empowered in skills such as Textile Design, Hairdressing, Barbing, Cosmetology, Photography, Shoe and Leatherworks, Fashion Design, Interior Decoration, Ankara Craft, among many other skills.

Dada used the opportunity to call on women, particularly those out of job to avail themselves of the opportunity of learning and acquiring any of the identified skills free of charge.