Lagos to commence 3rd expanded economic empowerment scheme

THE Lagos State Government is to begin the third phase of its Expanded Economic Empowerment Programme in 10 locations on Jan. 26.

   This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) and signed by the Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on Media, Tunde Abatan.

   According to the statement, the third phase of the programme is aimed at consolidating on the success achieved in the first and second phases.

   The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was organised across all local government areas of the state in 2014.

   The statement said that the third phase would provide an opportunity for those who missed the first and second phases.

   It advised anyone who missed the first two phases to register for any vocation of his or her choice, noting that the programme would provide training in various vocations.

   It said that the vocations included tailoring, catering, tie-and-dye making, pomade and cosmetics production, hairdressing, cosmetology and decoration, among others.

   “Residents should key into the economic empowerment and poverty alleviation of the state government. It is free to the beneficiaries.

   “The state government will continue to implement programme and policies that will not only help to alleviate poverty in the state, but also make Lagosians to be economically independent.

    “All the materials for the vocational training have been procured by the state government for the benefit of the expected trainees,’’ it said.

   It said that more than 32,000 residents of the state benefited from the first two phases of the programme.

   According to the statement, the beneficiaries were provided with working materials in addition to free one month training they received from experts hired by the state government.