Lagos sets up committee to empower women, girls with economic opportunities
The Lagos State government has taken a significant step towards promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls in the state.
A nine-member committee has been established to domesticate the National Women’s Economic Empowerment Policy, which aims to improve access to economic opportunities, financial inclusion, and gender mainstreaming for women and girls.
The committee’s establishment was announced by the Commissioner of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Cecelia Dada, during a follow-up visit by a delegation from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies and the Development Research and Projects Centre.
This was contained in a statement signed by the DRPC on Wednesday.
The national WEE policy was launched in 2023 to provide a policy guide for addressing the challenges hindering women’s development and growth in Nigeria.
The establishment of the committee in Lagos State is a strategic intervention to ensure that women and girls in the state have access to economic empowerment opportunities, thereby promoting gender equality and reducing poverty.
While commending the NIPSS and DRPC for selecting Lagos State as one of the cohorts at the subnational level to work with in domesticating the policy, Mrs Dada mentioned that it is in line with Governor Sanwo Olu’s vision for gender inclusion and economic empowerment of all Lagosians.
She noted that several WEE engagements have been implemented in the state, but it was expedient to domesticate this National WEE policy to guide its implementation.
She committed to domesticating the policy, and as a show of commitment, she noted that the committee selection that would drive the process would commence today, following this engagement.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Yemi Kalesanwo, reiterated the Ministry’s strong commitment. She emphasised Lagos State’s dedication to adopting the policy, aiming to significantly enhance the lives of women in the state.
Director-General of NIPSS, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, mentioned that the visit aimed to discuss actionable steps for implementing the WEE policy at the state level.
He disclosed that NIPSS and dRPC are collaborating with seven states across the six geopolitical zones to domesticate the policy within two years, with plans for more states afterward.
