The Lagos State Government has empowered 1,200 women from underserved communities with financial literacy training as part of its commitment to eradicating poverty and fostering inclusive development.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih, disclosed this on Friday during a ministerial press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, held to mark the second year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.
Dr. Finnih explained that the training aligns with the state’s strategic prioritisation of ten out of the seventeen United Nations SDGs, with a focus on No Poverty, Quality Education, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Innovation and Infrastructure, Responsible Consumption, Climate Action, Peace and Justice, and Partnerships for the Goals.
“Our objective is to achieve these goals before 2030 by improving the quality of life, especially for the most vulnerable segments of the population,” she said.
In a related intervention, over 4,000 sanitary pads have been distributed to female students in public schools across the state to combat period poverty. Dr. Finnih appealed to private organisations and NGOs to partner with the government to further support menstrual hygiene and ensure that no girl misses school because of her period.
“We must eliminate period poverty and protect the educational rights of girls in vulnerable communities,” she said.
The Special Adviser also revealed that 650 underserved communities, with a combined population of over 800,000 residents, have been identified across 20 local council areas. As part of efforts to provide lasting support, the government has established development centres in nine of those areas.
She noted that the state government continues to leverage partnerships with international organisations, strengthen data evaluation frameworks, and promote evidence-based planning to meet its development objectives.
“Our goal is to make Lagos a model for sustainable development in Africa,” Dr. Finnih concluded.