In keeping with his promise to lift many people out of poverty at the grass-roots level, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday empowered another set of 2,000 indigent citizens.

Speaking at the second edition of the empowerment initiative, tagged: ‘Eko Care: Go forward, grow Lagos,’ the Special Adviser, Office of Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, said the social intervention programme of the state government was designed by the office of Civic Engagement, as a palliative measure for the vulnerable, underprivileged and lower echelon of the society.

She noted that with the last batch, 4,000 people had benefited from the initiative. According to her, the beneficiaries were selected across the 20 local government and 37 local council development areas of the state.

The special adviser added that this year’s phase had been enriched with micro-business components in which, instead of direct cash payments, participants received products worth over N10,000 directly from partner companies at below factory prices, which allows them to start trading in their neighborhood at a competitive advantage, thereby maximising profits.

In her address, the Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Lola Akande, said it was an understatement that many people need financial assistance to solve a mirage of challenges ranging from chronic ailments, accidents, diverse degrees of disasters, to loss of jobs, occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. She encouraged all beneficiaries to make the best use of the opportunity and also enjoined them to be innovative and dynamic.