Lagos State ministry of women's affairs and poverty alleviation trains soldiers' wives

LAGOS State government has successfully trained 210 wives of soldiers posted to military formations in the state  in various skills to help them become financially independent and augment their family income.

Carried out by the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the programme involved short-term vocational training offered through its skills acquisition centre at Badagry. These women, resident in 15 Field Engineers Regiment, Topo Barracks, were trained in hair and wig making, fabric stoning and embellishment, cake, snacks and beverage production, soap making, makeup artistry, stove wick and insecticide production, among others.

According to one of the leaders of the women, the exercise was completed on August 26 after an intensive four-week engagement and once completed, they received start-up kits to help them get their businesses off the ground immediately. She added: “With this training, we no longer have to continue distracting our husbands who are currently in the battlefield defending our dear nation against insurgents, bandits and external enemies by always asking them to send us money for feeding and other daily family upkeep.”

Cecilia Dada, the Lagos State commissioner for women affairs and poverty alleviation, represented by an assistant director in the ministry, Abosede Omidoyin, urged the trainees to put their training to good use. She encouraged them to set up cottage industries now that they have been trained.