Tag: Sanwo-Olu

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has called on residents to be Christlike by reducing the cost of commodities as the Naira appreciates against the dollar.

He said it was important to reflect this as  Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Sanwo-Olu spoke at the Combined Special Prayer for Nigeria and President Bola Tinubu in commemoration of Easter and Ramadan celebrations, on Friday.

The prayer, held at the State House Mosque Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, attracted  leaders of both the Muslim and Christian community.

“It’s beginning to turn around, that’s what we said a couple of weeks ago that there’s nothing that is difficult that will last forever.

“Even at the national level, a naira that we all thought that would never rebound is becoming stronger.

“it’s gaining weight and becoming a lot more of the currency that we all appreciate.

” You can even see from the policies that the Federal Government is bringing out, Naira savings is now the order of the day.

“You should be happy as Nigerians that we are holding on to our currency and which will improve our exchange of value,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He said this needed to reflect in the markets, as the currency was getting stronger and better.

“There’s need to see the reflection in the cost of goods and services; people can not continue to give reasons while it went up, and now that it’s coming down, it also needs to reflect in the cost of rice, beans, tomatoes and that is the message for all of us, because we want to be our brother’s keepers.

“We want to ensure that the suffering of the people is brought to an end.

“I want to thank the president for taking the leadership and working with all the sub nationals, we are beginning to see the benefits of it.

“My wish is for all of us to enjoy the season, to be as peaceful as always and to do things in moderation and ensure that we maintain the sanctity, peace and tranquility that Lagos is known for,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu also commended residents of Lagos State for keeping faith with his adminstration.

He enjoined residents of the state to be grateful and thankful for the gift of life.

The governor described 2024 Good Friday Easter celebration as triple dose of celebration, which coincides with the 72nd birthday celebration of Tinubu.

“We just finished our Easter prayers which coincides with the birthday of the president, who we have offered prayers for, and we wished him all the very best. and we also prayed for the season.

” I want to wish all residents of our dear state in all of our Christian faith a happy celebration of the Easter.

“As. we have just ended the christian Lenten service, I believe that it’s been a worthy journey for all our brothers and sisters who had gone to ask for strengthening of our faith, our country, and coincidentally, it’s the 19th day of the Ramadan.

“So, everything around prayers and supplications are working for our good.

“It’s also a time for us to thank Lagos residents for their patience, understanding in all of the various areas of interventions that we have put forward in health, public transportation, food and food security, and ensuring that we are about bringing out solutions to the economic pressure that we see,” Sanwo-Olu said.

Dr Obafemi Hamzat, Lagos Deputy Governor, in his welcome address, urged the citizens to be more patriotic.

He prayed that God would spare the life of the President to live long, healthy and be able to lead the country right.

“We pray that the New Hope Infrastructure Initiative is well executed,” he said.

Also contributing, Dr Stephen Adegbite, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos chapter, noted that it was an opportunity to come together and appreciate the goodness of God.

Adegbite, who was represented by Dr Stephen Oyelola, Director of State Issues and Social Welfare, CAN Lagos, stated that every opportunity that one had required responsibility and every responsibility demands accountability.

Adegbite, who is also the Bishop of the Diocese of Ikeja, Methodist Church, Nigeria,  urged the people to be responsible as individuals and as citizens.

“I urge everyone to learn to be thankful as things cannot go the way we desire at all times,” he said.

He prayed for Nigerians, especially the leaders, that God continues to grant them the knowledge and wisdom to direct the nation’s affairs.

Read Also: Sanwo-Olu canvasses low interest rate for MSMEs to unlock growth

The Chief Imam of Lagos State, Sheikh Sulaimon Abou-Nolla, prayed for government at all levels for almighty Allah to continue to direct and guide them to provide good governance for the residents of Lagos State.

”I pray that almighty Allah will continue to guide your thoughts and your actions, so the good people of Lagos State will feel the impact of good governance,” he said.

The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr Ibrahim Layode, described the prayer as a reminder that all are bound by God’s love, irrespective of religious affiliation.

(NAN)

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has canvassed low-interest rates for Micro Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs) in the country to allow them access to financial support and thrive in their businesses.

Sanwo-Olu spoke at a celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) organised by the Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade, and Investment, in collaboration with the Women Entrepreneurs and Professional Development Network (WEPDN). It was themed ‘Economic Inclusion of Women Entrepreneurs (NANOs/MSMEs) at the Grassroots/Community Level’.

According to the governor, only loans with single-digit interest rates can help unlock the growth of small businesses. He noted that MSMEs create the most jobs and therefore should be supported with low-interest funds to enable them to do more.

Read Also; FULL LIST: African presidents, Heads of State below 50 years of age

The governor also promised that more women will be covered by the state’s empowerment programmes to help them contribute to the growing economy.

Sanwo-Olu, represented by Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, said the state is paying attention to women’s empowerment and has upscaled efforts to provide capital, training, and network necessary to grow their businesses.

He said the event was designed to offer a financing platform, training on digital marketing and skills, financial inclusion as well as presenting free Point of Sales Machines (POS) to enhance their businesses and other gifts from Lotus Bank.

Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has canvassed low-interest rates for Micro Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs) in the country to allow them access to financial support and thrive in their businesses.

Sanwo-Olu spoke at a celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) organised by the Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade, and Investment, in collaboration with Women Entrepreneurs and Professional Development Network (WEPDN).

It was themed ‘Economic Inclusion of Women Entrepreneurs (NANOs/MSMEs) at the Grassroots/Community Level’.

According to the governor, only loans with single-digit interest rates can help unlock the growth of small businesses. He noted that MSMEs create the most jobs and therefore should be supported with low-interest funds to enable them do more.

The governor also promised that more women will be covered by the state’s empowerment programmes to help them contribute to the growing economy.

Sanwo-Olu, represented by Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, said the state is paying attention to women empowerment and has upscaled efforts to provide capital, training and network necessary to grow their businesses.

He said the event was designed to offer a financing platform, training on digital marketing and skills, financial inclusion as well as presenting free Point of Sales Machines (POS) to enhance their businesses and other gifts from Lotus Bank.

“Today, as we look to the future, we are committed to building on these foundations with even greater enthusiasm. Our focus is on leveraging technology to create more accessible platforms for women entrepreneurs, especially at the grassroots. This is one of the reasons why we embarked on the 6,000-kilometer Fiber Duct Infrastructure Project. The first phase, which is 3,000 kilometers, is nearing completion.

“My charge to the ministry and our technical partners, the banks, is to lower the interest rate on this category of women so that it is not this 25 percent that will be killing. We must look at how to ensure the loans are not as prohibitive as for normal commercial enterprises because these are mini and micro

“With this project, we envision a Lagos where every woman entrepreneur, regardless of her location or the size of her business, has access to the internet and data resources needed to grow and succeed. The project will complement the digital literacy programs and e-commerce platforms tailored for women-owned enterprises, ensuring that the digital economy becomes a vast field of opportunities for all,” Sanwo-Olu said.

Read Also: Sanwo-Olu, Uzodimma, Otu to reconcile feuding APC chiefs

The governor also emphasised that Lagos State has initiated specific economic recovery programs, such as grants, extended loan moratoriums, and business advisory services, which have supported women-owned businesses to thrive and helped them navigate the current business climate.

Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade, and Investment, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, said the event is to recognise and discuss the indispensable role women play in shaping businesses, leading to economic prosperity.

Mrs. Ambrose-Medebem noted that despite the enormous contributions of women to the country’s growth and development, they were still facing numerous challenges that impeded their economic empowerment and inclusion.

“We must thus prioritise policies and programmes that promote women’s access to education, training and entrepreneurship opportunities. We must invest in initiatives that provide women with access to finance, markets, and technology, enabling them to start and grow their businesses sustainably.

“Furthermore, we must actively challenge and dismantle discriminatory laws, customs, and attitudes that perpetuate gender inequality and limit women’s economic participation. Empowering women economically requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the intersecting factors of gender, poverty, education, health, and social protection,” she noted.

The commissioner added that the state has made significant strides in advancing gender equality and women empowerment, ‘but much remains to be done, especially at the grassroots and community level’. She stressed the need for concerted efforts to further enhance Governor Sanwo-Olu’s strides in social inclusion and youth development.

President of WEPDN Mrs. Affi Israel Ibanga said the strategic conference was designed to complement the government’s development stride in the state, saying it will help to facilitate women’s inclusion in the scheme of things, especially at the community level where many of the women reside.

“It is my desire that this program will help our young ones, especially women off the streets for productive ventures. It is aimed at giving women an opportunity to negotiate their livelihood on their very own terms,” she said

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State says things are presently very tough in the country, but it is no time for blame game.

Sanwo-Olu said this at the 25th State House Ramadan Tafseer Anniversary Prayer, held at the State House Mosque Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday.

The theme of the lecture is: “Allah Will Not Change The Way Of A People, Until They Change What Is In Their Hearts”.

Things are presently very tough, no doubt, but this is the time to come together, proffer solutions and not to blame the government,” Sanwo-Olu, represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, said.

He charged Nigerians on being patriotic and loyal to the cause of a greater nation.

The governor emphasised increased love among Nigerians and patriotism to the country as part of solutions to the nation’s socio-economic challenges.

He acknowledged that global recession which was not limited to Nigeria, necessitated the current hardships being faced.

Sanwo-Olu urged Nigerians to return to the way of life where Africans were charitable towards one another.

He stated that it was disheartening that Nigerians no longer lived a communal way of life but now imbibed other people’s culture.

The governor stressed on the need for Nigerians to return to the real African style of living were it took the whole village to raise a child.

Similarly, former Commissioner for Ministry of Home Affairs, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, also enjoined Nigerians to take advantage of the Holy Month of Ramadan to pray more for the country.

He charged them to pray that the country becomes great for the betterment of all.

According to Obanikoro, Nigerians claim to believe in God but their words and ways do not match their deeds to a reasonable extent.

“What we are taught in religion is to do unto others what we want others to do unto us.”

Read Also: Sanwo-Olu’s wife gives 350 cash, tools

He, therefore, advised the people to love one another and not act in ways that would be detrimental to their fellow human beings.

Obanikoro urged Nigerians to support the government both at the state and federal levels in their quest to lift Nigeria from the current socio-economic downturn.

On his part, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr Olanrewaju Layode, said that the Tasfeer, which started 25 years ago, was to bring people together to proffer solutions and pray for the prosperity of the nation.

Speaking on the present economic challenges, Layode implored the people not to castigate one another, especially government but to share good ideas on how to develop the country.

“Let us follow the teachings of Quran as there are a lot of solutions in it.

“Also, l urge Muslims and non-Muslims alike to always pray for their leaders,” he said. (NAN)

Wife of Lagos State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has given 350 beneficiaries from 57 councils cash and tools at the Community Sensitisation and Empowerment Initiative sponsored by her office.

She said the initiative was a testament to the resolve to empower communities.

’Empowerment in cash, tools and human resources are some ways in which the office corroborates efforts of MDAs…

‘Empowerment occupies top position because this gesture is extended to young and old.

‘’From skill training and entrepreneurship, to healthcare and educational support, our efforts are far-reaching…’’

Read Also: Sanwo-Olu, Anyaoku, Ozekhome: Remove anomalies from 1999 Constitution

The governor’s wife listed other interventions as fight against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), healthcare, social welfare for orphanages, educational, fight against drug abuse, boy-child and girl-child initiatives, youth and women empowerment, and caring for the vulnerable.

Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Ambrose Medebem lauded her efforts.

She noted the sensitisation and empowerment are a catalyst for change.

 Highpoint of the event was presentation of tools: hairstyling kits, popcorn machines, shoe making packs, tailoring machines, vulcanising machines, among others.