Ibidapo- Obe; Guest Speaker, Mrs Ayodele Maji, Commissioner Women Affairs and PovertyAlleviation, Mrs. Bolaji Dada; Permanent Secretary, Mrs Yemi Kalesanwo; Mrs Joke Oshodi Olasukanmi; HOD Skills Acquisition Department, Mrs Funmilàyo Hamida and President Lagos State Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria at 2024 World Creativity and Innovation Day ceremony with Theme: INSPIRE” STEP OUT AND INNOVATIVE “
She made the commendation during the 2024 edition of the World Creativity and Innovation Day, with the theme: ‘Inspire’ organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, where students from various centres across the state showcased fashion design, leather work, hairdressing, cosmetology skills, among others.
Dada advised the students to tap into creativity to generate income, gain financial independence and contribute to the nation’s economic growth.
She said: “Creativity and innovation are essential drivers of national success, fostering growth, adaptability and competitiveness globally. This enables self-reliance amongst women, the vulnerable, unemployed youths and adults.
“You can pursue your passions, achieve your goals, and make positive impacts on the nation and the world around you, knowing full well that not all are driven into white-collared jobs.”
She added that realising the potential can boost confidence, enhance self-esteem and inspire others to do the same, especially at a time like this when creativity and innovation rule the world.
The commissioner also said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration is “development-oriented and saw the need to make creativity and innovation cardinal principles in his forward-looking T.H.E.M.E.S.PLUS Agenda.”
“As a Ministry, we have also effectively keyed into that purposefulness in handling the task of empowerment. Creativity and innovation drive most of the schemes designed to empower our students and make them economically independent.
“Presently there are 19 vocational centres across the state and last year a total of 4592 beneficiaries graduated from our vocational centres.
She added that creativity and innovation play a crucial role by driving progress, solving complex problems and enabling platforms that nurture growth.
“Innovation and creativity can enhance a nation’s competitiveness on the global stage and improve the quality of life for its citizens. It is a cognitive exercise, similar to inspiration. The light bulb moment of realisation.
Dada said that the transformative power of innovation and creativity is seen in nations that have gone through various stages of development.
“All over the world, nations that have not defined their direction have been known to experience stagnation due to resistance to change especially when they don’t get a buy-in from the people.
“The distinctions between creativity and innovation are important for anyone looking to inspire in their nation. Understanding the nuanced difference between creativity and innovation will help managers devise a plan that makes room for both. We have some simple definitions we rely on to make the distinction clear. Creativity is a thought process that, in the best case, leads to an extraordinary and unique idea,” she said.
