The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called for more investment to ensure that marginalised citizens have access to education and vocational skills.
The governor, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Economic Budget and Planning, Ope George, stated this on Thursday during the closeout event of the “Leave No One Behind” initiative held at the Correctional Centre for Girls, Idi-Araba.
The governor noted that the initiative by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Climate Change and Circular Economy and the Ministry of Youth and Social Development had been targeted to equip 20,000 women and girls in waste recycling skills.
He said, “The Leave No One Behind initiative has set a precedent but our work is far from over. We must continue to advocate and implement policies that support the circular economy.
“We must also continue to invest in education and skill development for marginalised communities and continue to strive for a world where no one is left behind. To the girls and women who have completed the programme, I say this, you are the future of Lagos.”
In his presentation, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, said, “The initiative has impacted the lives of about 100 women and girls in this pilot phase with the potential and we hope to scale up to 20,000 by providing a source of income and skills for business development.”
Also speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Climate Change and Circular Economy, Mrs Titilayo Oshodi, noted that wealth and job creation, as well as reduction of carbon emission, could be achieved through “innovative circular economic practices and ensure that their benefits extend to those who are in marginalised communities.”
The European Institute for Gender Equality describes marginalised people as different groups of people within a given culture, context and history at risk of being subjected to multiple discrimination due to the interplay of different personal characteristics or grounds.
These characteristics include sex, gender, age, ethnicity, religion or belief, health status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, education or income, or living in various geographic localities.
