The Enatta Foundation has brought renewed attention to the contributions and challenges of fisherwomen across coastal Lagos communities with the hosting of its 2025 Boat Regatta, a festival dedicated to celebrating women working in the fisheries value chain.
Founder of the foundation, Adijat Enitan Okuyelu, said the event was designed to give visibility to fisherwomen from eight communities who, she noted, remain largely unrecognised despite their critical role in food production and household livelihoods.
According to Okuyelu, generations of women have worked as traditional fishing artisans, yet they are often excluded from policy conversations, access to support, and public recognition.
She stressed that visibility is a first step toward ensuring fisherwomen are included in decision-making processes, supported with tools, and acknowledged for their economic impact.
Beyond the regatta, Okuyelu highlighted several empowerment initiatives run by the foundation, including financial inclusion programmes aimed at helping women access digital banking and formal financial services.
She explained that the approach emphasises partnership and accountability, equipping women with the discipline and knowledge required to engage banks and financial institutions effectively.
She also spoke on the foundation’s Boat Project, through which each of the participating communities has received two fishing boats. While describing the intervention as modest, Okuyelu said it marked the beginning of broader engagement, expressing hope for stronger partnerships with government and private sector actors.
Her long-term vision, she added, is for every fisherwoman to own a boat, improve productivity, and better support her family.
On her part, Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Bolaji Dada, who was represented by Mrs Yetunde Adeniji, described the initiative as impressive and aligned with the ministry’s mandate.
She reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to women’s empowerment, noting that supporting women directly translates to improved education, nutrition, and wellbeing for families and communities. Adeniji said feedback from the event would be reported to the commissioner to explore ways of supporting and scaling the initiative.
Similarly, Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Ogunsanya, who was represented by the Director of the Fisheries Department, Mrs Daisi Oshikoya, commended the Enatta Foundation for its sustained focus on women in coastal communities. She emphasised that women play a central role in fisheries sustainability through fish processing, market management, and family care.
Ogunsanya reiterated the ministry’s commitment to improving fisherwomen’s access to equipment, training, financial inclusion, safety, and wellness programmes, describing the regatta as more than a competition but a celebration of resilience, heritage, and unity.
As part of the 2025 impact highlights, the Enatta Foundation reported improvements in fish harvests, reduced post-harvest losses through better preservation practices, and direct livelihood support for fishing households. Over 250 fisherwomen have also benefited from the Money Mata Programme, gaining access to formal savings accounts, financial education, and improved creditworthiness.
The foundation has further strengthened its institutional standing through official registrations with relevant state and federal ministries, initiated a centralised digital data portal, enhanced staff capacity through grant-writing training, and expanded its visibility through diaspora engagement and partnerships.
The Boat Regatta 2025 concluded with renewed calls for collaboration between government, development partners, and the private sector to deepen support for fisherwomen and strengthen coastal economies across Lagos State.
The event also featured the presentation of cash prizes to women who actively participated in the Money Mata Initiative with Ebute Ilaja took first position, Oworonshiki came second, Ago Egun came third, and Agboyi took fourth place.