By Seun Ibiyemi
Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to an inclusive and sustainable Blue Economy, promising to channel concerns raised by women in riverine communities to relevant agencies for action.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Blue Economy, Mr. Oluwadamilola 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, Lagos.
The dialogue, themed “Women’s Participation, Leadership and Inclusion in the Blue Economy,” brought together women leaders from riverine communities across the state to discuss their challenges, explore economic opportunities and strengthen their participation in decisions affecting their livelihoods and well-being.
Emmanuel said concerns and recommendations presented by participants would be documented and forwarded to the appropriate government agencies for consideration and necessary action.
He added that issues requiring urgent attention would be prioritised, while other matters would be referred to relevant institutions for follow-up.
The engagement highlighted the importance of direct communication between government and grassroots stakeholders, particularly in riverine communities where waterways play a central role in transportation, trade, livelihoods and social interaction.
Speaking at the event, the Woman Leader of Blue Lagos, Olori Ololade Asani, said the dialogue was organised to provide women leaders with direct access to the Special Adviser and enable them to present their concerns without intermediaries.
She stressed that women should have a meaningful voice in governance discussions and decisions concerning their welfare, economic opportunities and community development.
Asani said sustained engagement with government was necessary to ensure that the needs of women in riverine communities were adequately represented in policies and development programmes.
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Similarly, the Team Lead of Blue Lagos, Mr. Saheed Adesanya, highlighted the initiative’s efforts to improve living conditions in underserved riverine communities through healthcare outreach, access to essential services, livelihood support, water infrastructure, safety interventions and community engagement.
Adesanya disclosed that additional programmes were being planned, expressing confidence that continued collaboration with the Office of the Special Adviser would enable the initiative to extend its interventions to more communities.
He reaffirmed Blue Lagos’ commitment to its guiding principle, “No Community Is Left Behind,” saying the initiative would continue to pursue practical, people-centred programmes 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 was intended to support community welfare, while the provision of life jackets highlighted the importance of water safety in areas where waterways provide essential links to workplaces, markets, schools and other destinations.
Speaking on behalf of the participating women, Olori Shittu Rashidat of Ibasa-Ijegun Egba Kingdom commended Blue Lagos for bringing women leaders together and creating an opportunity for direct engagement with the Special Adviser.
She described the dialogue as a welcome development that recognised women’s contributions to community development and called for sustained engagement to ensure that the concerns raised translated into tangible interventions.
The inaugural dialogue marks an effort to strengthen collaboration among the Lagos State Government, community leaders and development stakeholders in addressing the needs of riverine communities.
By creating a direct channel of communication between women leaders and the Office of the Special Adviser on Blue Economy, Blue Lagos seeks to promote participatory governance and expand women’s involvement in decisions shaping their communities.
The initiative maintained that women should not be viewed merely as beneficiaries of development programmes but also as active participants and leaders in building an inclusive and sustainable Blue Economy.
Blue Lagos expressed appreciation to Emmanuel, the participating women leaders, community stakeholders and others who contributed to the success of the programme.
The initiative reiterated its commitment to advancing community development under its slogan, “No Community Is Left Behind.”
