By Sandra Chukwunyere
The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting women’s leadership and inclusion in the Blue Economy, as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Blue Economy, Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, pledged to forward concerns raised by riverine women leaders to relevant government agencies for consideration and action.
Emmanuel gave the assurance at the inaugural Riverine Women Leaders’ Dialogue 2026, organised by the Blue Lagos Sustainability Initiative at the Ijegun Egba Ferry Terminal, Satellite Town, Oriade Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos, on Friday, October 23.
According to a statement signed by the Blue Lagos Sustainability Initiative, the dialogue, themed “Women’s Participation, Leadership and Inclusion in the Blue Economy,” brought together women leaders from riverine communities across Lagos State to discuss community challenges, explore development opportunities and strengthen their participation in decisions affecting their livelihoods and well-being.
Emmanuel assured participants that the concerns and recommendations they submitted would be documented and communicated to relevant government agencies for appropriate consideration. He added that officials would prioritise matters requiring urgent attention, while other issues would follow the appropriate channels for further action.
The engagement provided a direct platform for women leaders to present their concerns to the Special Adviser, highlighting the importance of communication between government and community stakeholders in identifying challenges and developing responsive interventions.
Speaking at the event, the Woman Leader of Blue Lagos, Olori Ololade Asani, said the initiative organised the dialogue to give women leaders direct access to the Special Adviser and enable them to communicate their concerns without intermediaries.
Asani stressed that women needed a meaningful voice in governance discussions and decisions concerning their welfare, economic opportunities and community development.
Similarly, the Team Lead of Blue Lagos, Mr. Saheed Adesanya, highlighted the initiative’s efforts to improve living conditions in riverine communities through healthcare outreach, access to essential services, livelihood support, water infrastructure, safety interventions and community engagement.
Adesanya said additional programmes were in the pipeline and expressed confidence that continued collaboration with the Office of the Special Adviser would enable Blue Lagos to extend its reach to more underserved communities.
He reaffirmed the initiative’s commitment to its guiding principle, “No Community Is Left Behind,” emphasising practical, people-centred interventions that promote social inclusion and sustainable development.
As part of the programme, Blue Lagos distributed foodstuffs, life jackets, branded T-shirts, caps, solar torchlights and stipends to participating women leaders.
The distribution of life jackets highlighted the importance of water safety in riverine communities, where residents depend on waterways for transportation to workplaces, markets, schools and other destinations.
Speaking on behalf of the participating women, Olori Shittu Rashidat of Ibasa-Ijegun Egba Kingdom thanked Blue Lagos for bringing women leaders together and providing an opportunity to engage directly with the Special Adviser.
Rashidat described the dialogue as a welcome development, commended the initiative for recognising women’s contributions to community development and called for sustained engagement to ensure that the concerns raised translate into tangible interventions.
The inaugural dialogue sought to strengthen collaboration among government, community leaders and development stakeholders in Lagos State by creating a direct channel of communication between riverine women leaders and the Office of the Special Adviser on Blue Economy.
The initiative also emphasised that women should not serve merely as beneficiaries of development programmes but should participate actively in decisions and leadership efforts that shape their communities and advance an inclusive, sustainable Blue Economy.
Blue Lagos expressed appreciation to the Special Adviser, participating women leaders, community stakeholders and others who contributed to the programme’s success, reaffirming its commitment to the principle, “No Community Is Left Behind.”
