LASG EMPOWERS 225 WIVES OF MILITARY PERSONNEL
The Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) has empowered 225 wives of Military Officers in a short-term skill acquisition in other to broaden their knowledge and increase their sources of financial strength.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 4 weeks training at Sam Ethan Air- Force Base, Pwd, On 25th August, 2021, the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwoolu loud WAPA’s effort in bringing succor to women circle through poverty alleviation while showcasing the magnanimity of the current administration to better the lives of Women and its citizens at large.
While delivering her keynote address, Mrs. Sanwo-Olu noted that “Worldwide, women are impressively demonstrating that they are willing and able to use their qualifications and self-determination, in order to directly increase social prosperity in male driven businesses. We have women as large scale business owners, we also have them in all forms of skilled labour as well as manufacturing sphere, targeting unwavering contributions to economic advancement”
The First Lady added that “apart from playing the regular domesticated roles by women, I urge for imbibing the ‘new normal’ of engagements in an evolving society, which, however , had been recently affected by the COVID- 19 pandemic, following restrictions to curb its global spread”.
While addressing the dignitaries and the participants at the event, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. (Mrs) Cecilia Bolaji Dada noted that “This particular Short- Term closing ceremony, is one in a series of four being organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation , for the Nigerian Army Officers Wives (NAOWA), Topo, Badagry, Navy Officers Wives (NOWA) and Nigerian Air Force Officers Wives Association (NAFOWA) in NAF Base, Sam Ethan NAF Base, People Living with Disabilities which held at the Women Development Centre, Agege, as well as one targeted for Vulnerable Women in Alausa Community , to hold at the Chapel of Christ the light, Alausa, Secretariat.”
Hon Bolaji Dada noted that “the Lagos State Government knows that, the prevailing economic situation poses serious challenges for women in particular and this informed the creation of 19 Functional Skills Acquisition Centres across the five divisions of the State, where 20 various skills are offered on a tuition- free basis, for the benefits of its residents”. She added that “the Lagos State Government under the leadership of Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has embarked on different initiatives to ensure financial independence for women, which is a critical step to taking charge of their lives and for mainstreaming the female gender into governance, especially with respect to politics and public life. This underscores the reason why the Present Administration has taken Women Empowerment as one of its focal policies in order to mitigate the effects of poverty prevalence amongst women, especially in this period when the Delta variant of COVID-19 Pandemic ravaging some parts of the world and economies”
In her address, the President, Defence & Police Officers Wife Association (DEPOWA) Barr. (Mrs) Vickie Anwuli Irabor, urged the beneficiaries of the training to take full advantage of the skills they have acquired to better their families and the military community in general. Barr. Vickie, in her address noted that ”the military lifestyle imposes unique challenges for military families, ranging from long separations, frequent moves, late nights, physical and mental trauma and in extreme cases death. These routinely faced challenges linked to the military lifestyle are often not experienced by the civilian counterpart, however, this program today suggests that our struggles are no longer ours alone. We are glad that the Lagos State government shares in our unique challenges and has taken a bold step to be part of the solution for us military wives”
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