The Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has announced plans to roll out upcoming training in digital marketing as part of its broader empowerment programmes, as it hosted the V-Care Foundation on Thursday.
Welcoming the Miss Mimansa Shukla-led delegation to the Ministry, the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Bolaji Cecilia Dada, commended the organisation for its impact and urged it to scale up its interventions. She noted that WAPA currently operates 19 Skills Acquisition Centres spread across the five divisions of Lagos State.
Hon. Dada outlined the Ministry’s empowerment focus for the year, which targets women, young adults, men and rural communities. According to her, these efforts are delivered through initiatives such as four weeks of short-term skills training, the Micro Enterprise Support Programme (MESI), targeted support for widows, and the provision of start-up kits and equipment for graduates of the Skills Acquisition Centres.
She highlighted WAPA’s agricultural empowerment initiatives, explaining that the Ministry runs community-based training in fish farming alongside the provision of support materials. She also referenced the Ministry’s farm in Avia, Badagry, where beneficiaries are allocated temporary demonstration plots and trained in palm oil processing, garri production and vegetable farming, while being encouraged to form cooperative societies.
The commissioner further emphasised the Ministry’s support for survivors of domestic violence through economic empowerment and psychosocial interventions. She cited a recent mental health awareness and counselling programme as part of ongoing efforts to address both economic and emotional challenges faced by vulnerable women.
She disclosed plans for upcoming training in digital marketing and reaffirmed the Ministry’s openness to partnerships in Adire production, describing it as a major skill area taught under WAPA’s livelihood programmes.
Hon. Dada also noted the Ministry’s collaboration with the State Universal Basic Education Board in training parents of out-of-school children. She explained that the initiative is aimed at improving household income and supporting the reintegration of children into school.
While commending V-Care Foundation’s commitment, the commissioner reaffirmed WAPA’s readiness to collaborate with credible organisations whose goals align with its mandate of empowering vulnerable groups and reducing poverty across the state.
Earlier, Miss Mimansa Shukla, Head of V-Care Foundation and leader of the delegation, expressed the organisation’s interest in sustaining a long-term partnership with WAPA. She recalled previous collaboration through four Skills Acquisition Centres where students received training in entrepreneurship and business plan development.
Also speaking, Mr Muyiwa Bolarinwa, Partnership Manager at V-Care Foundation, said the organisation plans to expand its training to more Skills Acquisition Centres in 2026 and provide sector-specific support aligned with WAPA programmes. He described Lagos State as a pace-setter in skills acquisition and empowerment and expressed interest in participating in the Ministry’s upcoming digital marketing training and future empowerment programmes.
The visit was attended by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Rianat Onigbanjo, alongside Heads of Departments and Units of the Ministry.
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