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By Lukman Olabiyi
In a major step towards strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Lagos State, 1,700 entrepreneurs on Tuesday received various working tools under the second phase of the Micro Enterprise Support Initiative (MESI).
The event, held at Blue Roof, Alausa, Ikeja, was organized by the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA).
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, led the distribution of tools and reiterated his administration’s commitment to women empowerment and poverty alleviation.
The governor emphasized the importance of empowering women as a strategy for broader societal development.
“When you empower a woman, you empower a family, a community, and indeed the entire society. Women are the foundation of homes, the drivers of small businesses, and the nurturers of future generations,”he said.
Tools distributed to beneficiaries included sewing machines, hairdressing kits, stoning machines, aluminum fabricating machines, cake mixers, photography equipment and cameras, POS machines, popcorn machines with gas cylinders, pedicure sets, and pepper grinders.
Others received agricultural items such as fertilizers, seeds, vap sack sprayers, and Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato vines, while petty traders were supported with cash grants.
Governor Sanwo-Olu urged beneficiaries to use the tools productively, warning against selling or misusing them.
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“They have been given to you to change your story, to lift your families, and to contribute to your communities. I expect you to build sustainable businesses and to, in turn, empower others,”he said.
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Bolaji Cecilia-Dada, noted that 70 percent of the beneficiaries are graduates of the state’s tuition-free skills acquisition centres.
She said the MESI initiative aims to transform vocational training into economic independence.
“These items are not just working tools, but gateways to dignity, productivity, and financial independence. They represent the government’s commitment to reducing poverty and providing practical solutions to everyday economic challenges faced by women and families in Lagos State,”
she said.
The initiative underscores the Lagos State Government’s drive to foster inclusive growth by equipping citizens—especially women—with the tools needed to thrive in the business landscape.
