Poverty Alleviation: N2bn spends on empowerment programme for vulnerable Lagosians in 1-yr, says Lagos govt
Ayodele Olalere
The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, WAPA, on Thursday says it spent about N2billion on various poverty alleviation programmes for vulnerable Lagosians in the last one year.
According to the Commissioner for WAPA, Cecilia Bolaji Dada, the Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Obafemi Hamzat administration also gave N250, 000 grants each to 250 Non-Government Organisations, NGO totaling N62milliion within the same period.
Dada said the empowerment programme targets women and youth adding that out of the N2billion spent, N1.5billiion was for micro enterprise support initiative while N500million was for livelihood empowerment initiative.’
The commissioner said the beneficiaries were selected from the social register of vulnerable households with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
She added that individuals who graduated from the skills acquisition centers were given tools and equipment to help them kick start their businesses.
“We go on the streets to evaluate and validate beneficiaries. Students from our schools are not just brought, we evaluate them. The ones that graduated, struggling to start their own business, we made sure to help them. 10,464 graduated within two years.”
Dada further said between 2023 and 2025, under the NCARES programme, 7,372 vulnerable residents benefitted while 3, 750 women were trained and empowered in a four weeks short term skills acquisition programme.
During celebration of International Widow’s Day, the Commissioner said the ministry gave financial support to 4,800 women for them to support their businesses while under the Health Nutrition programme, 2,820 families selected from three senatorial districts benefitted.
She said the health nutrition initiative was to educate women on nutritious foods to give to their families. According to her, 16,000 young ladies received free sanitary pads through the ministry to mark the Menstrual Hygiene Day.
On domestic violence, she said 2,611 cases were granted justice in two years out of which 214 Involved male victims and 2,457 were women. She added that 2,436 domestic violence cases were reported out of which 115 cases were prosecuted.
