LAGOS GOVT EMPOWERS ANOTHER SET OF BENEFICIARIES FROM THIRD PHASE OF MESI PROGRAM (PHOTOS)

By: Sefiu Ajape

…As WAPA Trains Nearly 20,000 Residents Since MESI Inception

The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to economic inclusion and poverty reduction as it trained and empowered another batch of beneficiaries through the Micro Enterprise Support Initiative (MESI), implemented by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA).

At the event held on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at the Blue Roof Hall, LTV Complex, Ikeja, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, disclosed that the initiative has empowered 18,963 residents, most of whom are women, since its inception.

Sanwo-Olu emphasized the importance of empowerment as a deliberate strategy, noting, “This initiative is a practical demonstration of our THEMES Plus Agenda, which places strong emphasis on social inclusion, human development, and the protection of vulnerable citizens.”

He said the programme continues to play a crucial role in expanding opportunities for vulnerable groups, strengthening small businesses, and reinforcing the THEMES+ Agenda.

Sanwo-Olu added that the goal is to create a Lagos where every resident has a fair chance at prosperity, regardless of gender or status.

“For us, empowerment is not a one-off intervention; it is a deliberate and strategic pillar for building a resilient and inclusive economy,” the governor said.

“By equipping our people with the tools and resources they need to run productive businesses, we are strengthening the informal sector, which is the heartbeat of Lagos.”

He urged beneficiaries to treat the received equipment as “seeds,” adding that with discipline and integrity, they can grow into sustainable enterprises.

Earlier in her address, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Bolaji Dada, noted that MESI was created to deliver hands-on training, startup capital, and vital tools to disadvantaged women, youths, artisans and graduates of WAPA skill acquisition centres.

According to her, the third phase of MESI for 2025 reflects the government’s resolve to deepen economic empowerment across Lagos communities.

She said the items distributed include sewing machines, stoning machines, hairdressing kits, baking ovens, confectionery starter kits, barbing kits, sterilizers, generators, cassava processors, and other food processing machines.

Dada said, “This initiative is a practical expression of the social inclusion and economic empowerment pillars of THEMES Plus, which remain central to Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to leave no one behind.”

She emphasized that WAPA remains committed to creating pathways for vulnerable residents—including widows, unemployed graduates, persons with disabilities, and young women—to thrive.

Also addressing the gathering, the Lagos State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, praised beneficiaries for embracing skill acquisition and self-reliance.

He said, “It is only when you have a job that you can take care of yourself, and it is when you can take care of yourself that you can think of others.”

Ojelabi added that by choosing to acquire skills and become employers of labor, beneficiaries were actively contributing to reducing poverty levels in Lagos State.

“For you to have embraced the scheme of acquiring knowledge, for you to have decided to acquire skills to become an employer of labor, it means you have chosen the path to contribute towards reducing the poverty level in Lagos State.”

Ojelabi went further by admonishing the beneficiaries to make good use of the equipment given to them.

He said, “I want to beg all of you to make the best of this opportunity that has been provided for us,” urging them not to sell off the equipment.

He expressed gratitude to the governor, the WAPA Commissioner, and the House Committee Chairman for their dedication to grassroots empowerment.

The Chairman, Lagos House Committee on Women Affairs, Poverty Alleviation and Job Creation, Princess Lara Oyekan-Olumegbon, assured that lawmakers would continue to enact legislation that strengthens the well-being of women and improves access to economic opportunities.

She said MESI and similar programmes remain a priority due to their direct impact on women’s development and community-level entrepreneurship.

In her vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary of WAPA, Mrs. Rianat Ajibike Onigbanjo, appreciated guests and stakeholders for supporting the programme.

She commended the Commissioner for consistently championing the empowerment of women, girls, and vulnerable groups, while reminding beneficiaries to maximize the tools provided and strive to become employers of labour.

During the event, past beneficiaries of the programme shared testimonials, praising the Lagos State Government and WAPA for the life-changing support they previously received. They explained how the empowerment helped them start their businesses and eventually become employers of labor.

Many recalled how the tools and financial support they received opened doors to stability, income growth, and expanded opportunities for their families.

In an interview with Hotjist, recent beneficiaries also expressed appreciation to the state government, describing the equipment provided as a major boost to their livelihoods.

The Micro Enterprise Support Initiative (MESI) is a Lagos State Government empowerment programme designed to reduce poverty at the grassroots and promote inclusive economic growth. Through WAPA, MESI provides practical training, startup support, and essential tools to disadvantaged women, young people, artisans, and graduates of state-owned skills acquisition centres.

Since inception, the initiative has strengthened local businesses, enhanced income stability, boosted self-reliance, and supported the expansion of micro and small enterprises across Lagos State—in line with the government’s vision of building a resilient and economically active population.