The Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), is set to collaborate with Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) in the quest to empower women and alleviate poverty through collaborative skill development initiatives.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by a delegation from YabaTech led by its Rector, Dr. Ibrahim Adedotun Abdul to the Ministry on Thursday, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Honourable Bolaji Dada commended the team for the visit, describing it as a significant milestone towards equipping more women with transformative skills through its 19 Skills Acquisition Centres.
“We are excited about the prospect of partnering with Yabatech to expand the reach and impact of our programmes. Collaborative initiatives like this are pivotal to fostering professional development and empowering women.
Additionally, we are keen to ensure our instructors receive training on gender-related issues while enabling young girls to benefit from Yabatech’s specialised programmes”, she said.
Dr. Ibrahim Abdul expressed his delight at the opportunity to visit WAPA, stressing that it was long overdue.
He noted that the Commissioner’s inspiring presence at a recent Yabatech event motivated the institution to explore collaborative opportunities with WAPA.
“At Yabatech, we are committed to community development and skills empowerment, particularly for women. This partnership aligns perfectly with our mandate to build a generation of skilled professional women who can contribute meaningfully to their communities”, Dr. Abdul stated.
Highlighting Yabatech’s efforts, Dr. Abdul revealed that the Institution, in collaboration with UNICEF, has already provided free ICT training for 5,000 girls in skills such as mobile app development, web development, and mobile repairs.
He, therefore, invited WAPA to nominate beneficiaries for similar programmes at the Institution.
Dr. Abdul further announced that Yabatech had trained lecturers and teachers on gender-sensitive issues.
“We believe competency-based training is a powerful tool to uplift disadvantaged groups.
Together with WAPA, we can reach more women, provide them with livelihood opportunities, and pave the way for their financial independence”, he added.
Both parties reiterated their commitment to sustainable women’s empowerment through resource development, gender-focused training, and impactful skills acquisition programmes.
The partnership promises to unlock opportunities for women and drive meaningful development across communities in Lagos State.
