Lagos state government yesterday reiterated its commitment to advancing gender equality and women empowerment in the state, saying plans are afoot to ensure over 200,000 women are empowered in the state.
The newly reappointed Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Mrs. Cecilia Dada who disclosed this on resumption of office said about 65, 000 women were empowered by the ministry under her watch in her first tenure in office.
Dwelling on her future plans for her ministry, Dada said she envisions a Ministry that is result- oriented, proactive, and innovative in its approach, saying they will leverage on technology and data to enhance their services and create effective solutions to the challenges faced by the targeted demographics.
She said, ‘’We will work with relevant stakeholders, including NGOs, community leaders, and the private sector, to maximize our impact and reach the most vulnerable populations. Our efforts must be complemented by a robust array of laudable programmes.
‘’Enhancing economic empowerment: Implementing programmes that provide women with access to capital, business training, and entrepreneurship opportunities to enable them to establish sustainable income-generating activities.
‘’Education and skills development: Introduction of initiatives to improve women’s education and skills, including vocational training, to enhance their employability and income potential.
According to her, ‘’ We will strengthen healthcare services, including reproductive health services, to improve women’s health outcomes, reduce maternal mortality rates, and enhance access to family planning resources.’’
‘’Gender-Based violence prevention and response: Implementing strategies to address and prevent gender-based violence, including awareness campaigns, legal assistance, and support services for survivors.’’
On social protection programmes, she added that, Expanding social safety nets, such as conditional cash transfer programs, to provide support to vulnerable women and families living in extreme poverty.’’