Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, launched the Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Policy Roadmap at the Shell Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan. This initiative marks a significant step towards dismantling systemic barriers hindering women’s economic participation and aligns with the state’s developmental agenda, national policies, and global commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized that the WEE Policy Roadmap is more than a document; it is a transformative tool to unlock women’s potential and drive economic progress. He highlighted that women constitute nearly half of Lagos’s population but continue to face substantial barriers in education, skill acquisition, access to finance, and participation in both traditional and emerging industries. 

The policy is structured around five key pillars: Agriculture, Entrepreneurship, Traditional Labour Market, Emerging Industries, and Education and Skill Acquisition. Each pillar proposes targeted interventions to enhance women’s economic participation:

Agriculture: Expanding access to digital tools, e-commerce platforms, and targeted financing to grow agribusinesses and connect women to broader markets. Entrepreneurship: Introducing gender-friendly financial services, simplifying capital access, and strengthening mentorship networks. Traditional Labour Market: Improving working conditions, enforcing labor laws, promoting family-friendly policies, and enhancing access to market information via digital tools. Emerging Industries: Incentivizing STEM and digital technology companies to hire and train women, alongside skill-building programs to close the gender gap. Education and Skill Acquisition: Offering scholarships, flexible learning, and vocational training in high-growth sectors like renewable energy, healthcare, and ICT.

The development of this roadmap involved a 12-month process of extensive stakeholder engagement, including government agencies, NGOs, private sector players, community leaders, and women’s groups, ensuring inclusivity across diverse groups, including women with disabilities. 

Governor Sanwo-Olu called for collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure the policy’s effective implementation, making it a “living instrument” that delivers tangible results. He reiterated that empowering women economically not only lifts individual households but also strengthens communities, grows the economy, and secures a prosperous future for generations to come. 

The launch event was attended by key figures, including the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Bolaji Dada, who described the roadmap as a collective resolve to break barriers, expand opportunities, and elevate the economic power of women across Lagos State. 

The WEE Policy Roadmap is expected to contribute significantly to inclusive economic growth and grassroots development across the state, providing a comprehensive framework to address structural barriers to women’s economic inclusion. 

!Governor Sanwo-Olu at the launch of the WEE Policy Roadmap()

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu during the official launch of the Women Economic Empowerment Policy Roadmap at the Muson Centre, Onikan.