Lagos Sets up Trust Fund to Empower Women, to Solve Housing Deficit

 

As part of efforts to bridge gender gaps and empower the women folks, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday stated that over 5,000 Lagos women would benefit from the Trust Fund set up by the state government aimed at expanding businesses of residents of the state.

Sanwo-Olu, who stated this at the launch of the Lagos State Empowerment Trust Fund (LSETF), Women Fund and Presentation of Cheque at the Blue Roof LTV8 at Alausa, Ikeja, disclosed that a total of 794 beneficiaries got various cheque to help expand their businesses at the event.

The governor also unveiled the  Igando Housing Estate named after the first civilian Governor of the state, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, noting that the challenge of housing deficit in state is real, even as he promised that over 1,248 houses would be delivered in different parts of the state within the next six months.

According to him, with the initiative, a lot of people will be taken out of poverty as they will double their sales and businesses, stating that a support to a woman is a support to a family to take them out of poverty.

 The governor, while disclosing that the fund targeted at women is being raised from N4billion to N10billion, added that women were being focused on because he was committed to taking Lagos residents out of poverty, and that one way to do that was by supporting women.

Sanwo-Olu maintained that the programme had no political affinity, saying it was meant for all residents irrespective of their political leaning.

He observed that to achieve the vision of building a 21st century economy, there was need to explore innovative ways, including public-private partnership (PPP) that would fast-track bridging the housing deficit in the state.

"There is a compelling need for us to develop and adopt a housing delivery model and strategies that would take into account our population and limited land space.

"One of the key strategies we would embrace is the global housing policy in which people can become homeowners over time by tying their ability to acquire houses to their income which is a financing system that is convenient and reasonable. This policy, alongside outright purchase of houses built by government, will support a sustainable system in which homes can be consistently made available to a larger number of people.

 

"We want Lagosians to be assured that in the delivery of these houses, we shall be consistent. We shall embrace rigorous planning and financial discipline in ensuring that ongoing housing projects located in various parts of the state are delivered on schedule," he said.