Women leaders from riverine communities in Lagos State have called for sustained engagement with government to address local challenges and expand their participation in decisions affecting their livelihoods and community development.
The call was made at the inaugural Riverine Women Leaders’ Dialogue 2026, organised by the Blue Lagos Sustainability Initiative at Ijegun Egba Ferry Terminal, Satellite Town, Lagos, where the state government pledged to forward the women’s concerns to relevant agencies for consideration and action.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Blue Economy, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, who attended the dialogue on Friday, October 23, said issues requiring urgent attention would be prioritised, while other submissions would be referred to the appropriate institutions for follow-up.
The dialogue, themed “Women’s Participation, Leadership and Inclusion in the Blue Economy,” provided a platform for women leaders to present concerns and recommendations directly to the government.
The Woman Leader of Blue Lagos, Olori Ololade Asani, said the initiative was designed to give women direct access to the Special Adviser and enable them to contribute to discussions on governance, economic opportunities and community welfare without intermediaries.
She stressed that women should have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their communities.
The Team Lead of Blue Lagos, Saheed Adesanya, said the initiative had been working to improve conditions in riverine communities through healthcare outreach, access to essential services, livelihood support, water infrastructure, safety interventions and community engagement.
He said additional programmes were being planned, adding that collaboration with the Office of the Special Adviser could help extend interventions to more underserved communities.
As part of the event, the initiative distributed foodstuffs, life jackets, branded T-shirts, caps, solar torchlights and stipends to participating women leaders. The distribution of life jackets also highlighted water safety in communities where waterways provide essential links to workplaces, markets, schools and other destinations.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Olori Shittu Rashidat of Ibasa-Ijegun Egba Kingdom welcomed the engagement and urged the organisers to ensure that the concerns raised resulted in practical interventions.
The dialogue sought to strengthen communication between government and women leaders in riverine communities, with organisers emphasising that women should participate actively in shaping policies and programmes affecting the state’s Blue Economy.
Blue Lagos said its guiding principle, “No Community Is Left Behind,” underpins its efforts to promote inclusive development and improve living conditions in underserved communities.