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By Lukman Olabiyi
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to driving economic growth through strategic investments in women across the state.
Speaking at the 2025 edition of the WAPA Connect Conference, held at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, the governor, represented by his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, emphasised that empowering women remains central to the state’s development agenda.
Themed “Investing in Lagos Women: Investing in Growth,” the conference was organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA).
Governor Sanwo-Olu noted that the theme aligns with the state’s broader vision of building a Greater Lagos that prioritises the growth and inclusion of every woman.
“Our administration has developed a women empowerment roadmap to break down systemic barriers and promote gender equity. Through WAPA Connect, we aim to align women in Lagos with this roadmap. We are also working on enhancing access to finance for women to grow their businesses,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu added that the state is committed to formulating inclusive policies, strengthening partnerships with stakeholders, and improving data collection on women to guide policy implementation effectively.
“Investing in women is not just empowerment, it’s nation building. Lagos remains dedicated to gender equity and inclusive governance. We commend WAPA for this initiative and reaffirm that Lagos believes in its women and will continue to invest in them,” the governor said.
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In her remarks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Bolaji Cecilia Dada, described WAPA Connect as a platform that brings women from various professions together to network, share ideas, and build sustainable businesses.
“When we empower women, we strengthen families and expand our state’s economy. WAPA Connect is about building bridges, fostering collaboration, and helping women dream bigger. When women rise, Lagos grows,” she stated.
Highlighting the Ministry’s achievements, Dada revealed that 19 skills acquisition centres have been established across the state, offering training in fashion design, catering, ICT, textile weaving, and more. So far, 28,913 individuals have graduated from the centres.
She also disclosed that 6,200 families have received food relief through the Ministry, while 17,213 beneficiaries have been supported with tools under the Micro Enterprise Support Initiative (MESI).
The Commissioner expressed gratitude to Governor Sanwo-Olu and his deputy for policies that position women at the heart of productivity and inclusive development.
Also speaking at the event, the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, represented by Mrs Funmi Omotoso, applauded the Ministry for its consistency in organising the WAPA Connect conference and for keeping women at the centre of its programmes.
The event drew stakeholders from government, private sector, and civil society, all united in their commitment to advancing women’s empowerment in Lagos.
