In a bid to enhance the entrepreneurial proficiency of Women investors within Lagos State, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), has made moves to partner with Afri-Consult and SME.NG on an e-market platform. Speaking at a meeting held with the two groups on Friday, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Cecilia Bolaji Dada, said the Lagos State Government will not renege in its commitment to ensure women are encouraged to reach their full potential, as well as contribute their quota to its economic development. While reiterating the State Government's determination to improve the lot of its citizenry on various platforms, Dada said "The Ministry through its numerous programmes, has produced graduates in every economic area each year. Thus, it is important that initiatives such as this, are put in place to provide grooming platforms for businesses, with the intent to increase recipients' potentials in the Business World". In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Oluyemi Kalesanwo said the initiative presents a golden opportunity to partner with the private sector for more developmental initiative for women, especially the vulnerable ones among them. The Head of Afri-Consult, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Adegbite Moore, disclosed that her organisation had in the past partnered with international bodies, including the United Nations, ECOWAS and the World Bank among others, to invest in the development of women, while alleviating challenges posed for their survival in the Nigerian society. She informed that no woman would be left behind in the programme as training will be organised for women across Local Government Areas of the State in addition to adequate empowerment. Moore added that a database of political women leaders and venture capitalists across sectors will be managed digitally to create an e-platform, where government and private organisations can access information about women in different disciplines, adding that the platform will feature profiles of women who provide exemplary leadership skills across the State. In the same vein, Mrs. Thelma Ekiyor, the CEO of SME.NG, an e-market firm which is set aside to help women in the global economy, said "The e-market place is a direct response to the national survey carried out by SME.NG, in collaboration with other bodies, to assess the impact of COVID -19 on women business in Nigeria. The survey revealed that many women were unable to evolve into the digital space, to conduct their businesses due to limited knowledge on Information technology. The SME.NG platform, plans on rectifying issues like this". The SME.NG is set to have its formal launch on March 25, 2021 as a platform created specifically for Lagos Female gender, democratise access to finance as well as operate e-commerce under a thriving entrepreneur venture. #LASG #ForAGreaterLagos
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