The Lagos State Government empowered another set of 2,000 indigent citizens yesterday at the ‘Eko Care: Go Forward, Grow Forward, Grow Lagos’ an empowerment initiative of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State. This initiative was set up in order to fulfill his electoral promise to lift many people at the grass-roots out of poverty in Lagos State.
Princess Aderemi Adebowale, the Special Adviser, Office of Civic Engagement spoke at the second edition of the empowerment initiative tagged: ‘Eko Care: Go forward, Grow Lagos.’ She disclosed that the social intervention programme of the state government was designed by the Office of Civic Engagement, as a palliative measure for the vulnerable, underprivileged and lower echelon of the society.
She also disclosed that the beneficiaries were selected across the 20 Local Government and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the state. She disclosed that a last batch of 4,000 people had benefited from the initiative.
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The Special Adviser enunciated that this year’s phase was about empowering micro-businesses in which participants were given products worth over 100,000 directly from partner companies at a minimal factory price, instead of direct cash payments. This would enable them to begin trading in their neighborhood at a competitive advantage, thereby maximising profits.
Lola Akande, the Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperations, in her address said it was an understatement that many people need financial assistance to solve a lot of problems, ranging from chronic ailments, accidents, diverse degrees of disasters, to loss of jobs, occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. She encouraged all beneficiaries to make the best use of the opportunity and also enjoined them to be innovative and dynamic.
(Peace Omenka)
