The Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) hosted the V-Care Foundation, an NGO focused on integrated health and empowerment, to discuss potential collaboration on Thursday.
Eko Hot News reports that the visit, led by Miss Mimansa Shukla, aimed at exploring long-term partnerships to enhance skills acquisition and empowerment programmes across Lagos State. The delegation met with Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Bolaji Cecilia Dada, who welcomed the initiative.
Hon. Dada commended the Foundation for its impact and encouraged it to scale up interventions. She highlighted that WAPA currently operates 19 Skills Acquisition Centres across Lagos, offering programmes targeting women, young adults, men, and rural communities.
She further outlined the Ministry’s 2026 empowerment focus, including four-week short-term skills training, Micro Enterprise Support Programme (MESI), start-up kits for graduates, and agricultural empowerment initiatives such as fish farming and vegetable cultivation on the Avia Badagry farm.
Hon. Dada also emphasised support for survivors of domestic violence through economic and psychosocial interventions, including mental health awareness and counselling. She highlighted plans for upcoming digital marketing training and expressed readiness to partner with credible organisations like V-Care Foundation in Adire production and other livelihood programmes.
Miss Mimansa Shukla recalled the Foundation’s previous collaboration with WAPA through four Skills Acquisition Centres, where students were trained in entrepreneurship and business plan development. She reiterated the organisation’s interest in expanding its impact across the state.
Mr. Muyiwa Bolarinwa, Partnership Manager of V-Care Foundation, stated that the organisation plans to broaden training to more Skills Acquisition Centres in 2026 and provide sector-specific support aligned with WAPA’s programmes. He also expressed interest in participating in digital marketing and future empowerment initiatives.
The visit included discussions on aligning strategies to ensure effective collaboration and sustainable empowerment outcomes for vulnerable groups. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to reducing poverty and enhancing skills acquisition in Lagos State.
Present at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Rianat Onigbanjo, as well as Heads of Departments and Units within WAPA, strengthening the dialogue for partnership and programme execution.
