Lagos Strengthens Social Protection Partnerships

The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to building an inclusive and resilient social protection system, calling for stronger collaboration among development partners, civil society organisations, academia, and the private sector.

This call was made at the Lagos State Social Protection Partners’ Forum held in Ikeja, where the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs. Olayinka Ojo, described social protection as a fundamental right rather than a privilege.

Mrs. Ojo highlighted key milestones, including the Lagos State Social Protection Policy, the establishment of a Social Protection Coordinating Department, and the implementation of programmes such as Conditional Cash Transfers and Lagos CARES.

She noted that with over 20 socio-functional MDAs implementing more than 90 interventions and over ₦140 billion in allocations, improved coordination, data digitalisation, and sustainability were essential to achieving measurable impact.

Development partners, including UN Women, UNICEF, and Stanbic IBTC, commended Lagos State’s leadership while emphasising the need for gender-responsive frameworks and inclusive digital access to protect vulnerable populations.