The Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment has presented training and empowerment tools to beneficiaries of the Entrepreneurship Training Programme for Persons with Disabilities, PWDs, as part of efforts to promote inclusive economic growth and self reliance across the state.
The presentation took place recently at the graduation ceremony of the programme held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Ikeja, where beneficiaries were formally equipped with start up tools to support the practical application of skills acquired during the training.
Speaking at the event on behalf of the Honourable Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Hon Akinyemi Bankole Ajigbotafe, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Lolade Aina, reaffirmed the Lagos State Government commitment to empowering persons with Disabilities as active participants in the state economic development process.
She noted that the empowerment of PWDs remains a deliberate policy direction under the T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Development Agenda of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo Olu, stressing that the administration remains focused on inclusive policies that leave no group behind.
According to the Commissioner, the entrepreneurship training programme was designed to equip beneficiaries with practical entrepreneurial skills, financial literacy, and enterprise development knowledge, enabling them to transition from dependency to productivity and sustainable wealth creation within their communities.
Earlier, in a welcome address delivered on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Lolade Aina, by the Director of Administration and Human Resources, Mrs Aderonke Kudirat Bello, the graduands were commended for their resilience, commitment, and enthusiasm throughout the duration of the programme.
She described the initiative as a clear demonstration of the Ministry belief that disability is not inability, noting that with the right support, encouragement, and access to opportunities, persons with Disabilities can thrive as entrepreneurs and employers across different sectors of the economy.
The Permanent Secretary also applauded the facilitators, programme partners, and other stakeholders whose collective efforts ensured the success of the training and empowerment exercise, adding that the tools presented would further enhance the beneficiaries capacity to establish and grow sustainable businesses.
She assured the graduands of the Ministry continued support through policies and programmes focused on wealth creation, job generation, and the full integration of persons with Disabilities into the state economic framework to improve livelihoods.
In her goodwill message, the General Manager of the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, LASODA, Mrs Adenike Oyetunde Lawal, affirmed that the empowerment of PWDs by the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment highlights the strength of inter ministerial collaboration in achieving inclusive development.
She explained that beneficiaries were selected based on their specific needs following consultations with various disability clusters to ensure fairness, inclusion, and adequate representation among different categories of persons with Disabilities.
Mrs Oyetunde Lawal urged the trainees to distinguish themselves through quality service delivery and professionalism, noting that this would help them compete favourably within their respective vocations and attract sustained patronage from the public.
Also speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Wealth Creation and Employment, Comrade Tijani Oluwadare, stated that the initiative reflects the Lagos State Government commitment to the principle of leaving no one behind in development efforts.
He appealed to the beneficiaries to utilise the empowerment tools responsibly and strictly for their intended purposes, adding that proper use would help them achieve self reliance and economic stability.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Miss Elufisan Anu Ajoke expressed gratitude to the Lagos State Government for providing training and equipping participants with start up tools to enable them to immediately practise their trades and earn a living.
She assured the government that the beneficiaries would utilise the tools effectively, expand their businesses, and have a positive impact on others within their communities.
The empowerment exercise saw beneficiaries receive various start up tools, including hairdressing equipment, makeup kits, barbering kits, leatherwork tools, phone repair tools, and arts and crafts kits to support their chosen trades.
