Lagos reaffirms commitment to prioritizing women participation across key sectors

By Adeola Ogunrinde

The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to placing women at the centre of economic development, with a focus on inclusive growth and expanded opportunities across key sectors.

This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, during the International Women’s Day celebration for women in MSMEs and nano businesses held in Ikeja.

The event, organised by the Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, brought together women entrepreneurs under the theme of accelerating economic empowerment for inclusive growth.

According to Ambrose-Medebem, the administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu has continued to prioritise policies that promote women’s economic empowerment as a key driver of development.

Furthermore, she explained that empowering women goes beyond theory, noting that it involves enabling them to earn income, own assets, invest, and participate in decision-making processes.

She added that the government has implemented targeted policies and partnerships to increase women’s participation in sectors such as trade, technology, agriculture, manufacturing, and the creative industry.

Similarly, the commissioner stressed the importance of capacity building, saying the state is investing in programmes that provide business skills, digital tools, and better access to markets for women.

Meanwhile, other speakers at the event, including Babatunde Onigbanjo and Hausa Adeeyo, highlighted ongoing collaborations and initiatives aimed at supporting women to grow sustainable businesses and transition into formal economic structures.