Lagos pledges commitment to poverty alleviation, wealth creation

Lagos State government, yesterday, committed to alleviating poverty, creating wealth and job opportunities that will uplift residents.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, stated this, yesterday, during the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation’s 2023 graduation ceremony for 4,592 students in its various centres in the state.

The governor, who said that women empowerment is one of the cardinal points of development for his administration, implored the graduating students of the centres to aspire to be better daily as that is one major way to make impact and maximise the opportunity of the training and skills they have acquired.

Sanwo-Olu also said the training was a roadmap for graduating students to be the best in their chosen careers, learn from one another and be a better entrepreneurs.

He, therefore, urged the new graduands not to look down on themselves as they could create great business and be renowned entrepreneurs through the new skills they have just learnt.

Commissioner for the ministry, Cecilia Bolaji-Dada, said Sanwo-Olu’s administration was committed to empowerment of women and youths, noting that since 2019, over 18,000 students had benefited from the tuition-free training, a potent tool for social and community upliftment of the graduands.

She said: “Today’s ceremony is unique, because the state is showcasing a laudable strategy in the development of our trainees as a potent tool for social and community upliftment.

“We recognise the immense potential and talent that our young women and trainees possess, and it is our duty to unleash this potential for the development of our society.

“Young people have always been seen to be restless and exuberant, but through the T.H.E.M.E.S. plus agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the state government is commitment to harness this vibrant energy and channel it towards productive enterprise that will be of immense benefit to the state and the country at large.

“The administration has considered it imperative in the last four years to provide comprehensive trainings and skills development programmes for women and youths.

“We fervently believe that by equipping them with the necessary knowledge and technical skills, we can enable them to enhance their productivity and become self-reliant.”