by In a bid to grow Lagos Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is set to empower over 2000 residents of Lagos with grants that will aid them to establish and boost their business effectively.
The grant to the
residents which comes through a social welfare intervention program is in line
with the administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S agenda aimed at addressing every sector
of the state. Special Adviser to the Governor on Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi
Adebowale, disclosed that the grant was part of the activities lined up for the
on-going civic week and the launch of the Sanwo-Olu Cares initiative. Adebowale
stressed that the grant should be seen as ‘setting on the path’ for citizens
who are able to contribute their quota to the economic development of the
state. “Beneficiaries of the social welfare inclusive initiative would be
encouraged to invest 50% of the grant received in a small-scale business. The
office of Civic Engagement has partnered with some companies to assist our
citizens to actualize these goals by planning and monitoring the growth of
their small-scale business.” Adebowale added. According to her, the week-long
programme championed by the Lagos State Office of Civic Engagement which is set
to commence on Friday the 20th and end on Boxing Day, 26th December also has
other activities lined up for the development of Lagos. The Special Adviser
hinted that aside from the empowerment initiative scheduled to hold at the Eko
FM Marquee, Alausa, Ikeja, other activities that will inculcate social values
in children and youth, serving as a guideline for achieving widespread civic
engagement through planned programmes of action has been included in the event.
“We aim at building a people-centered Lagos by adopting a variety of engaging
activities as a channel to inspire individuals to be active participants in the
process of nation-building. Engaging citizens remains our ultimate goal. We can
only improve Lagos through our collective effort.” Office of Civic engagement
disclosed that there will be social visitations to Churches, Mosques as well as
senior citizens, and relief materials will be distributed to them.
While the flag-off of the week-long event promises to be
interactive, educative, and entertaining for participants; the special adviser
stated that ‘Music and Message Gathering’, as a means of conveying messages to
the youth and Lagosians effectively are also included in the event.
Source: Vanguard
