By Kayode Olopade
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to economic inclusion and grassroots development as 3,792 residents were empowered with received tools and equipment under the Micro Enterprise Support Initiative (MESI) aimed at strengthening small businesses and improving livelihoods across the state.
Speaking at the graduation and distribution of working tools and financial to 3,792 beneficiaries of the MESI programme organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) and held at the Blue roof, LTV 8 compound, Agidingbi,Ikeja, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the Initiative was one of the clearest expressions of this administration's commitment to inclusive governance towards creating opportunities, reduce poverty and promote self-reliance among Lagosians.
This was just as the governor noted that the true measure of any government lies not only in economic growth or infrastructure development but in its ability to positively impact lives and empower citizens to succeed.
“The strength of any government is measured not merely by the size of its economy or the scale of its infrastructure, but by how many lives it touches and how many people it empowers to succeed.
"It is more than the distribution of tools and equipment; it is the fulfilment of our promise to give our people the means to create wealth, build sustainable businesses, generate employment and achieve financial independence.
"Today alone, 3,792 beneficiaries will receive empowerment tools and equipment to strengthen their businesses, improve their livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to the economic growth of our State," he stated.
Sanwo-Olu said that the beneficiaries would receive empowerment tools and equipment to expand their businesses, improve household incomes and contribute to the state’s economic development, adding that the initiative aligns with the objectives of his administration’s THEMES+ Agenda, which prioritises inclusive growth by ensuring that development reaches every part of Lagos, including urban, rural and riverine communities.
According to him, small business owners, artisans, traders, women entrepreneurs and young people remain the backbone of the state’s economy, stressing that empowering them would create jobs, stimulate economic activities and strengthen families.
“When we empower one entrepreneur, we strengthen a family; when we support thousands, we strengthen the economy of Lagos State,” he said.
Speaking further, Governor Sanwo-Olu explained that MESI goes beyond the distribution of tools, describing it as an investment in human capital designed to create wealth, encourage entrepreneurship and foster financial independence.
The governor maintained that his administration had consistently backed its promises with tangible programmes over the past seven years through investments in infrastructure, healthcare, education, transportation, technology, security, social protection and enterprise development.
According to the governor, his administration had, in the last seven years, consistently demonstrated that promises made are backed by action through strategic investments in infrastructure, transportation, healthcare, education, technology, security, social protection and enterprise development, adding: "We have continued to build a Lagos that works for everyone."
"At the same time, we have deliberately invested in our people, because the greatest legacy of any government is not the projects it builds but the lives it transforms." Sanwo-Olu said.
Sanwo-Olu, while ongratulating the beneficiaries, urged them to make productive use of the equipment provided, expand their businesses, create employment opportunities and become agents of economic transformation in their communities.
The governor assured Lagosians that his administration would continue implementing policies that promote entrepreneurship, expand opportunities for small businesses and ensure that the dividends of good governance reach every community across the state.
Speaking earlier, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, said the
tools given to the beneficiaries were to encourage and empower them after their training.
He urged them to register with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) to enable them receive funding support to scale up as they grow their businesses.
In her welcome address, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Balaji Cecilia -Dada, said the Sanwo-Olu administration believes that true leadership is about creating opportunities, not dependency.
She said the MESI programme was designed to bridge the gap between vocational training and business start-ups by providing graduates of the state’s tuition-free Skills Acquisition Centres with the tools needed to establish sustainable enterprises.
Dada disclosed that since the inception of the Sanwo-Olu administration, 35,101 residents had graduated from the ministry’s Skills Acquisition Centres, while 18,990 beneficiaries had received start-up equipment through MESI.
She added that over 1,100 residents had acquired digital skills, 18,241 people had benefited from the Life Skills and Economic Empowerment Programme, more than 4,040 vulnerable families had received food support under the Ounjẹ Lọ Rẹ Awo initiative, and over 5,500 widows had been empowered with financial grants to strengthen their businesses.
The Commissioner explained that beneficiaries of this year’s programme received a wide range of business support equipment, including sewing machines, photography kits, catering and baking equipment, pepper grinding machines, deep freezers, agricultural processing machines, complete hairdressing and barbing sets, vulcanising tools and food items to enable them to establish or expand their businesses.
"Every empowerment package distributed today represents hope renewed, dreams restored and renewed confidence in the ability of our people to succeed through hard work and determination," she stated.
Speaking further, the commissioner said the vision of her ministry is to build a society where women, families, vulnerable persons and residents across urban, rural and riverine communities are empowered to attain social and economic well-being.
"Our mission is to formulate and implement policies and programmes that promote gender equality, social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic empowerment through strategic partnerships and innovative interventions," she said.
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