Beneficiaries of the N20, 000 stipends given by the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Eradication (WAPA) are optimistic that the cash grant will go a long way in realising their dream of becoming economically prosperous. OYEBOLA OWOLABI reports.
James Akinyadenu was excited when he received a cash grant of N20, 000 from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA). He expressed his optimism of achieving a certain level of economic independence. The gesture from the ministry coincided with the celebration of International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
This might have buoyed his confidence in quickening his exit of the poverty circle.
Commending the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, James said: “The initiative is a very good one, especially for the less privileged ones in society. It will enable some of us who received the grant not to depend on others. This programme will boost the people’s morale to do something better and improve their lives.
“I believe that N20, 000 will enable me to do something that will be economically viable; something that will help me to achieve financial independence.
“I have a computer business. I also sell office stationery. With this money, I will introduce some of the business ideas we were taught here,” he said.
Esther Olorunfemi, another beneficiary who will start an ankara craft business, said: “No money is too small to start a business; the important thing is for one to start.”
Continuing, she said: “We appreciate WAPA for this support and training. We pray that WAPA will continue to grow. I am happy to be a beneficiary of the gesture. No money is too small to start something; we only need to start from somewhere.
“In previous training, we were taught how to manage money and how to start a business with a little amount of money and grow it big so that we can be economically emancipated.
“I intend to go into ankara crafts – throw pillow, shoe and bag, and others. People are already taking orders for bags because I have been trained before now. I also intend to advertise my products on social media and register my business name.”
Another beneficiary, Mrs Yemisi Oresanwo, is sure that the N20, 000 would give more boosts to her retail business.
She said: “This is the first time I have benefited from the WAPA gesture. I am glad about this initiative. I sell recharge cards, pure water and drinks. I will use this money to stock my shop with more products.
“It is not good to stay at home. The N20, 000 is like millions because nothing is too small to start a business with. I also implore my fellow women not to wait for large amounts of money before they would start a business. They should start with the little they have so that their children can eat. They should forget about buying aso-ebi and other fancy things for now.”
The United Nations recognises every October 17 as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, and the Lagos State Government, through its Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), is doing everything possible to reduce the level of poverty in the state. This it does through training and cash grants to the poorest of the poor.
The theme for this year’s celebration was “Building Forward Together: Ending Persistent Poverty, Respecting all People and our Planet.”
To celebrate the day, the ministry gathered men and women at the Skills Acquisition Centre in Isheri-Berger, on October 15, to train and give them N20, 000 grants to start and boost their small-scale businesses.
A total of 500 people benefited from the gesture.
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Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Mrs Oluyemi Kalesanwo said: “The state has invited women and men to be part of this programme to give out stipends to start small-scale businesses.
“Women are homemakers; a woman knows how to make something small big. Women know how to manage and multiply, take care of the children, pacify everyone, ensure the family is safe and eat quality but affordable food.
“Even in the corporate world, women pick up faster when they lose a job than men because men are looking for big businesses. Women aspire and do so too, but they know how to start from scratch and grow to any level they so desire. That is why this programme is so important so that our women can become self-sufficient in all they do.”
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Cecilia Bolaji Dada noted that the day is celebrated as a way of identifying the efforts and struggles of people living in poverty and giving them a chance at life.
She lamented World Bank statistics that indicate that 40 per cent of Nigerians (83 million people) live below the poverty line, while another 25 per cent (53 million) are hopeless.
“With COVID-19 ravaging the world, many of these 53 million hopeless people could fall into poverty. It is presumed that COVID-19, which brought many crises, is expected to push over 11 million Nigerians into poverty by 2022, taking the former number of people classified as poor to over 100 million. The World Bank expects the Nigerian inflation rate in 2021 to be 16.5 per cent higher with time.
“Food has become very expensive by 70 per cent for most Nigerians, in over one year. Beans, a common commodity for the average Nigerian has risen to three times its former price. Shall we say the dollar rate affects our local foods too?
I will say poverty is not solely an economic issue but rather our individual problems that disturb our means of earning a livelihood.
“Therefore, it is important for u, as a responsive government, to address poverty in our state by introducing empowerment programmes to support indigent and vulnerable women in line with our ministry’s vision to sustainably reduce poverty in Lagos State.”
Mrs Dada reiterated the government’s intention to do everything possible to ensure the statistics change.
She added: “In line with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S agenda, the Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has established 19 skills acquisition centres where about 20 vocations are taught free. There have been about 10,000 beneficiaries so far.
“The ministry trains and empowers women in farming, and land is given to participants to enable them to put their knowledge to practice and earn a livelihood. The importance of these programmes is to solve the problem of unemployment, and also offer economic empowerment by reducing poverty among women, youths and widows.
“There is a social-register with the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget from which we pick beneficiaries whenever we have programmes such as this. The register contains names of indigent Lagosians who need the government’s interventions.
“We have a monitoring mechanism to ensure the beneficiaries do the right thing. We have a monitoring department in the ministry and agents in the local government areas that monitor our beneficiaries to measure our success and impacts.”
The commissioner urged beneficiaries of this year’s token to make good use of the opportunity.
“Don’t despise the days of little beginnings. Our facilitator has told you 20 businesses you can do with 20,000. She has spoken about selling food, water, locust beans, and others. Please, make the effort count,” she added.
Chairman of the House of Assembly Committee on Women Affairs, Poverty Alleviation and Job Creation, Mojisola Alli-Macaulay, thanked the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration for the gesture.
She said: “We have to thank Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for doing well for the women of Lagos State. He has empowered many of them and he keeps urging them to be self-reliant, he keeps giving them the energy to emancipate themselves.
The facilitator, Mrs Rachael Ariori, taught the beneficiaries 20 businesses they could start with N20, 000.
Ariori is the Managing Director of Eyits Manna House Limited, a firm that deals in agro-processing of herbal tea, spices, cashew nuts and other natural products.
She is also the Lagos chapter Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Small-Scale Industrialists.
She said: “The beneficiaries were taught 20 businesses they can start with N20, 000. Though the money seems small, I tell you it is very possible and sustainable to start a business with N20, 000 in Nigeria. That is why we talk about the 7Ts-think, training, testing the market, treasure, tamper-proof.
“Truth is that if you teach a woman how to fish, she will find a way to catch more instead of eating that one fish. A woman knows how to start a business, make it big and sustainable so her children will benefit, and that is why we are passionate about empowering women.
“The government and United Nations also know this and that is why they are taking issues about women serious. They know that issues about women must be taken seriously if poverty must be eradicated. Women should not be exposed to violence, be financially independent, live in an environment conducive to peace, and have access to the market to conduct their businesses because when you help a woman, you are helping the nation to grow.”
Appreciating the gesture, Comrade Mrs Kehinde Okeowo said: “I am happy because those called to be beneficiaries are those who really need it, and I know this gesture will help them become useful to themselves and their families.
“As a mother, you should be able to buy little things for your kids. They can start sachet water business with the money, it will yield well and the person will become independent. That is why I am so elated.
“I urge the women to make good use of the money. Know what you are doing with it and ensure the money is multiplied.”