Lagos empowers 250 household heads with start-up tools

The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Youth and Social Development has empowered 250 household heads with various start-up tools for self-reliance and independence.

The is part of efforts to improve the lots of orphans and vulnerable children in Lagos State.

Speaking at the Household Economic Strengthening For Orphans And Vulnerable Children held in Lagos, at Correctional Center for Boys, Yaba, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Olusegun Dawodu identified poverty as the leading cause of household vulnerability and separation in the society.

He averred that most families had abandoned their parental roles in attempts to provide basic needs for their families which had led to children being abandoned, neglected and exploited for financial purposes.

Dawodu added: “the Orphans and Vulnerable children are affected/infected with HIV/AIDS malnourished due to extreme poverty, marginalized, stigmatized or even discriminated against and need care or protection.”

He disclosed that Household Economic Strengthening (HES) comprises a portfolio of interventions to reduce the economic vulnerability of families and empower them to provide for the essential needs of the children they care for rather than relying on external assistance.

Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu said that the empowerment programme was to make significant contributions to the efforts of vulnerable households in the State, help strengthen their economic capacities and empower them to provide more for the essential needs of the children in their care which would ensure that the children were able to access essential services like safety, healthcare, education and other basic needs.

She added: “this programme is one of the actualisation of the T.H.E.M.E.S Developmental Agendas of this present administration and the fulfilment of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s promise to reduce poverty in the State to the barest minimum, increase their economic independence and improve their ability to provide for their children.”

Mrs Victoria Ekarika, entrepreneurship coach, enlightened the beneficiaries of the programme on things they needed for them to have business plan, budget, financial discipline, saving culture, investment plan and record keeping in order for them to be successful in business.

Among the beneficiaries of 2021 edition were Ms Stella Onyelu, Ms Precious, Olayinka Johnson and Funmi Okafor who testified how training and empowerment tools they were given had helped in no small measure to improve their financial life.

Deep Freezer, Pop-corn making machine, vulcanizer machine, hair dryer, sewing machine, clipper and grinding machine were among the empowerment tools distributed this year to the various beneficiaries.