From Abubakar Abdullahi, in Lafia
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) and Tony Elumelu Foundation Women Economic Empowerment Programme in Nasarawa State.
The programme aims to empower 18,500 women across the country with grants to re-capitalize their small businesses.
In address, the first lady Remi Tinubu represented by the wife of the Nasarawa state Deputy Governor Tosin Akabe said the aim for the initiative is to promote economic empowerment among women by recognizing that empowering women households, communities, and the nation.
“The initiative seeks to promote economic empowerment among women, recognizing that empowering women empowers households, communities, and the nation”.
She said the program targets women traders and small-scale business owners who are determined to provide for their families and uplift their communities.
According to the first lady, each of the 18,500 women will receive N50,000 to strengthen their businesses, with 500 women selected from each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
While saying that the program is targeting women traders and small-scale business owners who are determined to provide for their families and uplift their communities Mrs Tinubu made it known that Tony Elumelu Foundation donated N1 billion to the Renewed Hope Initiative to support the program.
The First Lady emphasized that the grant is not a loan but a seed of renewed hope to help women re-capitalize their existing businesses.
She expressed gratitude to the Tony Elumelu Foundation for their support and urged the beneficiaries to utilize the funds effectively.
In her remarks, Nasarawa state first lady Silifat Sule, said the empowerment program is to help women stand on their feet by engaging in a business that would sustain her, her family and the community at large.
Mrs Silifat appreciates the Nation First Lady Remi Tinubu on her Renewed Hope Initiative and the Tony Elumelu Foundation for this great initiative.
This initiative is part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to reduce poverty and achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Similar empowerment programs have been rolled out in other states, including Lagos and Ogun, where women have received empowerment items such as deep freezers, gas cookers, and grinding machines.
