Sanwo-Olu promises more investment in women to drive economy

By Adeola Ogunrinde –

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to driving economic growth through sustained investment in women across Lagos State.

Represented by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the Governor made this known at the 2025 WAPA Connect Conference, held at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island. The event was organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA).

Sanwo-Olu said the theme of the conference, ‘Investing in Lagos Women: Investing in Growth’, aligns with the vision of a Greater Lagos that prioritizes the empowerment and advancement of women. “WAPA Connect will help us align women with our empowerment roadmap. We’ve focused on building ambitious and clear policies to support this vision. Our goal is to strengthen our partnerships with stakeholders, improve our data on women, and ensure women have access to finance to grow their businesses,” the Governor said.

He stressed that investing in women is essential for nation-building and reiterated the administration’s dedication to gender equity and inclusive governance. “Lagos is committed to impactful policies that support women. We appreciate WAPA for this initiative and want women to know that Lagos believes in you and will invest in you,” he added.

Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Bolaji Cecilia Dada, explained that the WAPA Connect Conference was created to bring women from diverse professions together to network, share ideas, and build sustainable businesses. She described the platform as an opportunity for women to collaborate, innovate, and drive growth in their communities.

“When we empower women, we strengthen families and expand the state’s economy,” Dada said. “WAPA Connect is about building bridges and helping women dream bigger. When women rise, Lagos prospers.”

Highlighting the ministry’s achievements, Dada said WAPA has established 19 skills acquisition centres across the state, offering training in areas such as fashion design, catering, hotel management, ICT, and textile weaving. She also revealed that 28,913 students have graduated from these centres, 6,200 families have received food support, and 17,213 beneficiaries have been empowered through the Micro Enterprise Support Initiative (MESI).

The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, represented by Mrs. Funmi Omotoso, commended Commissioner Dada for sustaining the WAPA Connect initiative over the years and for consistently placing women at the centre of the state’s development agenda.