Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor has reiterated that his administration is committed to improve skills development and education, harnessing enhanced skills acquisition training and adult education to empower residents with qualitative and valuable skills. Sanwo-Olu who was represented by Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, his Deputy stated this on Tuesday while speaking at the 2023 Micro Micro-Enterprise Support Initiative Program (MESI) held at the Blue Roof, LTV, Ikeja. He said the state aims to increase employability and open up opportunities for income generation through collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including educational institutions, NGOs, and the private sector. He said that the Micro-Enterprise Support Initiative Program is designed to empower the indigent, vulnerable, and graduates of the Skills Acquisition Centers in Lagos State. “I am delighted to witness the collective efforts dedicated to uplifting the less privileged, providing them with opportunities for self-reliance, and contributing to the growth of our economy. “Our administration’s recognition of the pivotal role of Micro-Enterprises in driving economic development, reducing poverty, and generating employment, led to its prioritization for support to create more job opportunities, and foster innovation for accelerated growth. “This initiative is a tangible demonstration of our commitment to addressing the plight of the less privileged that are facing significant challenges in their daily lives. It is also a practical demonstration of our social inclusion policy geared towards ensuring that no one is left behind in our collective journey to the greater Lagos of our dreams. Speaking further he said building a successful nation is not solely the duty of an individual but a collective task. POLL “We must work hand in hand to ensure the sustainable growth of these micro-enterprises and provide support to those who need it the most. The Governor however urged the beneficiaries not to sell the items as the State Government has invested significantly in various empowerment tools. “You are expected to make judicious use of these resources. They are not gifts to be kept away but put to use as tools to facilitate your journey to becoming economically and financially independent as well as employers of labour. Cecilia Bolaji Dada, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, earlier in her address said that the Micro-Enterprise Support Scheme (MESI) is a State Government intervention and transformational programme through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation adopted to equip Lagos citizenry with adequate tools for financial sustainability. She said this laudable altruism is being given to beneficiaries who require working tools in order to enhance their trade proficiency. She listed some of the tools to include; Milling machines, Sewing machines, Professional Hair-dryers, Barbing clippers with Sterilizing units and Generators, Pop-corn machines, Sharwama grillers and Toasting Machines, Snail pens, Industrial cookers, Tile laying Machines, as well as Gari processing equipment among others . “We recognize the plight of those who are less fortunate and face significant challenges in their daily lives. It is our duty as a government to ensure that no one is left behind and that everyone has equal opportunities to succeed. “It is in this vein that in the last five years, this Administration has been working earnestly to actualize the electoral promises and manifesto of the All Progressive Congress (APC), by translating the vision into actions in the march towards achieving a Lagos that is at par with International best practices on developmental economic strategies.”

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