As part of efforts to enhance women’s economic empowerment and strengthen sustainable livelihoods, WaterAid Nigeria, with support from DP World, has trained over 60 women from Ikorodu, Ojodu and Igando communities in Lagos State on Financial Management.
The training, held at the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, premises in Ikorodu, was designed to equip women entrepreneurs and community leaders with practical financial skills necessary to effectively manage and grow their businesses.
The initiative forms part of the broader DP World-funded project titled “Advancing Inclusive Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, WASH, in Lagos State.”
Speaking during the training, WaterAid Nigeria’s Finance Officer, Catherine Ajaba, emphasized that financial management extends far beyond simple bookkeeping and record-keeping.
According to her, proper documentation and reporting of daily financial transactions are critical to business sustainability, operational efficiency, access to funding, and long-term profitability.
She encouraged the participants to cultivate prudent spending habits, maintain accurate financial records, and develop a culture of savings and investment to ensure the growth and sustainability of their enterprises.
Ajaba noted that effective financial management enables entrepreneurs to make informed business decisions, monitor cash flow, determine profitability, and plan for future expansion.
Explaining the rationale behind the training, she stated that the programme seeks to empower women as economically independent leaders by providing them with technical knowledge, institutionalized financial discipline, and a clear pathway toward sustainable service-based livelihoods and leadership roles within the WASH sector.
She explained that the intervention adopts a two-tiered “Learn-Earn-Sustain” model designed to ensure that women’s empowerment is practical, measurable, and sustainable rather than merely theoretical.
Ajaba further disclosed that the DP World-supported project commenced in June 2025 and is scheduled to be concluded at the end of May 2026.
The project aims to advance inclusive and sustainable WASH service delivery in Ojodu and Ikorodu North Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) through increased access to water, sanitation and hygiene services, women’s empowerment initiatives, and strengthened institutional capacity within the WASH sector.
According to her, the project builds on previous interventions by WaterAid Nigeria and its partners to improve WASH service delivery across Lagos State.
Over the one-year implementation period, the project is expected to reach more than 108,000 people with improved water, sanitation and hygiene services in target communities within Ikorodu North LCDA and selected schools in Ojodu LCDA.
Participants at the training expressed appreciation to WaterAid Nigeria and DP World for the opportunity to acquire valuable financial management skills.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Adeyinka Okolo, described the programme as enlightening and transformative,”I have learned so many things from this training.
I am proud of what they are teaching us and the confidence they are building in us.
They are making us realize that we can achieve a lot on our own without depending on anyone.
This training is encouraging us to become successful entrepreneurs and financially independent women,” she said.
Other participants noted that the training has improved their understanding of business finance, including how to distinguish between capital and profit, monitor business performance, determine pricing and costing, and maintain proper records of income and expenditure.
They added that the knowledge gained would help them manage their small-scale businesses more effectively and make better financial decisions.
The beneficiaries unanimously commended WaterAid Nigeria and DP World for investing in women’s empowerment, noting that the skills acquired would not only improve their personal economic wellbeing but also contribute to the development and sustainability of their communities.
Written by Yemisi Dada