Women of all categories, including those living with disabilities in Lagos State have been urged to acquire skills to make them economically independent.
The Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Mrs. Oluyemi Kalesanwo, gave the admonition during an advocacy visit by the Director of Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP), a non-governmental organisation and delegates of Civil Society Organisations.
Kalesanwo appealed to the women to take advantage of the numerous programmes being taught in the 19 Skills Acquisition Centres across the state to ensure that no woman, irrespective of disability, health or social status, is left behind in the state government’s poverty reduction effort that seeks to equip vulnerable women with skills.
She expressed the readiness of the Ministry to collaborate with WRAHP as part of efforts to drastically curb Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and ease the financial plights of Women in the State.
The Perm Sec reiterated WAPA’s mandate to protect women against SGBV and empower them towards financial independence, hence, the need for collaborative efforts to achieve the goals since WRAHP also focuses on Justice and Psychosocial support services for female survivors of SGBV.
She urged women-focussed Civil Society Organisations across the State, to register with WAPA for a seamless on boarding process in the State’s Social register which is domiciled with the Lagos State Operations Coordinating Unit (LASOCU) Register.
The Executive Director of WRAHP, Mrs. Bose Ironsi in her remark described the planned collaboration with WAPA as part of the group’s sensitisation campaign aimed at combating SGBV in communities and providing a healthy and safe environment for women.
Ironsi applauded the Lagos State Government for its exemplary strides in the empowerment of women and youths across the State.
The Director of Domestic Violence Department (WAPA), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olorunfemi, informed the group of the Ministry’s Domestic Violence Department’s current activities, which oversees issues on all forms of Violence against women.
She encouraged women to speak up and speak out against all forms of violence, intimating them of the dedicated Phone lines where they can report cases of violence.
