Lagos Aims to Empower 5,000 with FG Livelihood Support

Lagos State Government, through its Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), is set to uplift over 5,000 vulnerable individuals across the state.

This initiative is part of the Federal Government’s Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NCARES) program, in collaboration with Lagos Cares DL 1.3, under the theme “Training for Livelihood Support Programme.”

This program targets economic relief for struggling individuals, particularly women and youth running small businesses across the country.

Mrs. Toyin Salami, Head of Disbursement Link Indicator (DL 1.3) at WAPA, announced this during a recent two-day training session in Lagos.

She highlighted that the initiative is tailored to support economically active but financially strained individuals by providing them with essential training and financial grants to boost their business operations.

Salami stated that beneficiaries are drawn from the state’s social register, which includes over 25,000 vulnerable residents. The selection criteria focus on those already engaged in business activities.

“The beneficiaries will receive training to further develop their businesses, and a one-time grant will be disbursed directly into their bank accounts to support growth,” Salami explained.

She also revealed that the program has already benefited over 2,500 people in its initial two phases, with a target of reaching 5,000 beneficiaries.

Over 1,200 individuals received training on Thursday, with plans to extend the program to additional communities.

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Permanent Secretary of WAPA, Mrs. Oluyemi Kalesanwo, urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously.

She explained that the program includes upskilling in areas such as Book-Keeping, Financial Literacy, and other Entrepreneurship Skills to help them better manage their resources and improve their livelihoods.

Kalesanwo added that this training, which is part of the broader NCARES DL 1.3 project, aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Developmental Agenda.

The sessions were conducted simultaneously across different parts of the state, including Epe, Agege, Isheri, and Coker Aguda.

“This initiative, launched by the Federal Government to enhance entrepreneurship skills in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, aligns with Lagos State’s broader efforts to strengthen economic resilience and empower vulnerable residents amidst ongoing economic challenges,” she emphasized.

Mrs. Saudat Salami, a facilitator at the Coker-Aguda Local Council Development Area, stressed the significance of entrepreneurship skills for small business success.

She noted that many business owners struggle not because they lack skill, but because they lack the knowledge to manage a business effectively.

“Running a business requires more than just skills; it requires proper understanding of operations,” she said.

She urged trainees to register their businesses, maintain proper bookkeeping, leverage social media for marketing, and seek collaborations and associations that could open doors to new opportunities.

One of the participants, Mrs. Arike Adeyemi, a caterer, shared her experience from the training, stating that she gained valuable insights, including how to use social media for business promotion and the importance of tracking expenses like transportation and packaging costs.

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