WAPA, LASUBEB COLLABORATE TO EMPOWER PARENTS OF OUT-OF-SCHOOL CHILDREN
A collaboration between Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) and the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) has produced 250 beneficiaries of an empowerment initiative specifically targeted at out-of-school parents, vulnerable women and men within Maryland and its environs.
Addressing the beneficiaries during the closing ceremony of the four-week, short-term training and empowerment programme held in Maryland, Lagos, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Cecilia Dada, expressed hope that the trainees would, henceforth, be able to contribute their quota to the financial upliftment of their families and progress of the State.
She explained that the training programme was aimed at alleviating the socio-economic plight of the participants, stressing that the empowerment initiative will also enhance the financial sustainability and economic progress of the beneficiaries.
The Commissioner informed that the training programmes are tuition-free, adding that over 10,000 trainees have graduated from the short-term programme since its commencement in 2019.
She listed communities whose residents had previously benefitted from the training programmes including Agege, Orile-Agege, Iba, Oto-Awori, Mushin, Odi-Olowo, Iru, Ajido-Badagry, Ibeju-Lekki, Ikosi-Ejiirin, Epe, Ebute-Metta, Ikeja, Irewe in Ojo Local Government, as well as Topo-Badagry settlements of the State.
Mrs. Dada said: “The present administration under the leadership of Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has taken Women Empowerment as one of its focal policies to mitigate the effect of poverty prevalent amongst women. We also realise that when women are economically empowered, there is less tension on the homefront and obvious reduction in domestic violence”.
While reiterating the need to enhance their proficiencies, the Commissioner charged women to aim at self-development initiatives with a view to being resourceful mothers to their children.
In his address, the Chairman of LASUBEB, Mr. Wahab Alawiye-King, commended the State Government for harnessing different avenues to address issues of out-of-school children, stressing that the training of the parents of the affected children is one of the several efforts of the State Government to drastically reduce the menace.
According to him, the collaboration with WAPA was a result of findings conducted by LASUBEB, which identified socioeconomic factors as one of the causes of children being out of school, and could be addressed through empowerment initiatives.
He said despite the reality that formal education may not be accessible to all members of the society, the government is striving to ensure that children of school age are not denied the opportunity of formal education up to the secondary school level.
Alawiye-King appealed to the beneficiaries of the training and empowerment initiative to use the economic benefits of the training acquired to support their children with access to basic education instead of engaging them in domestic or business activities during school hours.
He restated the commitment of the State Government to ensuring that no child is left behind in acquiring basic education towards achieving the State Government’s vision of eradicating illiteracy in Lagos.
The beneficiaries of the short-term, four weeks training programmes were trained in Events Decoration, Tie & Dye, Catering and Confectioneries, Gele Tying and Make-Up Application, Ankara Craft and Leather Works, Hair Dressing and Wig Making, Fabrics Stoning, Throw Pillow and Interior Decorations, Production of Soap and Pomade/healthy insecticide production among others.
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PIX 1: Graduands of the catering and confectionery vocations at the empowerment programme.
PIX 2: Mrs. Cecilia Bolaji Dada at the empowerment programme.
PIX 3: Empowerment tools for beneficiaries of the empowerment programme.
PIX 4: Director Administration and Human Resource, WAPA, Mrs. Lyla Oki; Commissioner for WAPA, Mrs. Cecilia Bolaji Dada; a beneficiary of the Catering Initiative, Mrs. Olufunke Shyllon; Director of Women Affairs Department, WAPA at the closing ceremony and empowerment programme
PIX 5: Soap-making and household item graduands of the empowerment programme.
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