Sam Philip
Lagos State government has begun to make good its promise to equip women folk in the state with financial literacy a programme on “Promoting Human Capital Development through Advocacy for women’s financial inclusion in hard-to-reach communities” held at Araromi-Ale, a rural community in the Badagry area of Lagos.
Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih-Awokoya, said Lagos State Government is determined in fulfilling its commitment to ensuring financial literacy, women’s inclusion, and empowerment in rural communities, especially in hard-to-reach communities.
The programme was organised by the Office of SDGs in collaboration with Pay Business (Opay), Cowrywise, Lagos State Resident Registration Agency (LASRRA) and National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
Dr. Finnih-Awokoya explained that project aimed at equipping women in underserved areas across 12 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos State with essential financial literacy, entrepreneurship training and access to vital financial services.
Addressing the over 100 women who attended the programme, she said it was important to educate women on financial literacy to empower them.
Represented by Mrs. Aasiah Solanke, the Technical Assistant at the Lagos State Office of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Dr. Finnih-Awokoya said it is also very important to reach out to women who are yet to be captured digitally in the Lagos State database.
According to her, “We are here as part of the human capital project to promote financial literacy and inclusiveness for women in hard-to-reach communities. Basically, what we do is ensure that these women have access to a lot of digital and financial inclusion services.
“We partner with a lot of people and organisations in Lagos that we feel could add to the human capital development of women. The partners taught the women how to save and invest their money so that they can be financially literate and bring about positive change in society. The training will empower them economically in such a way that they can do more things for themselves.
“We still have women in Year 2024 keeping money under their beds, inside their underwear, and under a container in their kitchen. All these are not sustainable because people need to have digital inclusion access. So, we decided to bring knowledge about digital and financial inclusion to them. We appreciate the traditional leader of Araromi-Ale for embracing us with open hands.”
The Baale of Araromi-Ale, Chief Temitope Adele Agemo, commended the SDGs team and Lagos State government for the initiative when the team visited his palace .
The traditional head said: “We thank the Lagos State Government for this initiative. This will help educate our women about financial literacy. This programme will help get them enlightened. We want more of this programme to help members of our community on how to safe-keep their money and manage their funds.”
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke during the exercise expressed their appreciation to the Lagos State Government for coming to their community to educate women on financial inclusion.
Mrs. Ihioma Uchanna, one of the beneficiaries, said: “I am very happy for today’s event. It is a sort of empowerment and encouragement for the women in the community. The training made us know that even in this present situation in the country, we can still survive as long as we use the techniques we were taught. I appreciate the Lagos State Government for what they are doing, and I want them to continue to do more empowerment for women from time to time.”
Another beneficiary, Mrs. Tolani Fashola said: “I am happy for today’s empowerment because we have never enjoyed such a programme in our community. This is the first time we have experienced this type of program, and we are very happy to get such an opportunity from the government. We thank the Lagos State Government. We want to implore them to empower more women so that we will have the power to stand as a woman in the society.”
Mrs. Hephzibah Linus, a widow, said, “It is good for the government to empower the masses, the poor. I feel relieved by the gesture from the government. I want them to continue what they have started. They should focus more on the less privileged.”