Highlight

First Lady in Abeokuta, launches “Renewed Hope Initiative” for Southwest women

659

No fewer than 120 women from the six south-west states are to get N60 million from the “Renewed Hope Initiative,” a social intervention programme of the wife of the President, Mrs. Oluremi Tunubu.

The first lady disclosed this on Tuesday at the launch of the “Renewed Hope Initiative Women Agricultural Support Programme” for the Southwest and the flag-off of the 2024 Ogun State Planting Season at the Cultural Centre, Abeokuta.

She said N10 million would be given to 100 persons with disabilities to recapitalize their existing businesses.

She said: “Today, we are supporting 20 women farmers per state with the sum of N500,000 each. To this end, a draft of N10 million per state for the Southwest zone will be handed over to the first ladies of Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo states, who are the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) state coordinators, for onward disbursement to all beneficiaries in their respective states.

“The Renewed Hope Initiative Social Investment Programme will be empowering 100 persons with disabilities and small business owners in Ogun State with a sum of N100,000 each to recapitalise their existing businesses.”

Mrs. Tinubu also disclosed that the Renewed Hope Initiative would be collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to empower farmers, saying that 75% of the beneficiaries, who will be young female farmers and 25% young male farmers, would be specially identified, trained, and empowered under the programme.

The first lady said the pre-identified 80 women farmers in each state for the agricultural support programme would be carried along and urged women farmers to seize the opportunity to expand their agricultural ventures and contribute to local and national food production.

“In a short while, the Renewed Hope Initiative will be collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to empower potential farmers.

“In this phase, 75% of the beneficiaries will be young female farmers, while 25% will be young male farmers. They will all be specially identified, trained, and empowered.

“I want to implore our women farmers receiving support today to seize this opportunity to expand their agricultural ventures, contribute to local and national food production, and serve as role models for others aspiring to join the agricultural sector,” she said.

Earlier in his remarks, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun disclosed that his administration, through the Oko’owo Dapo scheme, has assisted over 50,000 women to grow their businesses with additional funding from the Federal Government’s Nigeria for Women Project.

Abiodun stated that the Ogun Broiler Empowerment Scheme, which currently has a total investment of about N1.5 billion, has empowered over 500 women agribusiness owners by giving day-old chicks to women and removing broilers from them every 90 days.

While noting that his administration has also launched Ibi-Dero, an initiative specifically targeted at pregnant indigent women for pre-natal delivery, post-natal, and neo-natal care free of charge, he maintained that his administration has succeeded in reducing the maternal and child mortality rates in the state.

The state helmsman noted that his administration has prioritized the welfare and empowerment of women as a result of their population, adding that his government has also implemented programmes aimed at boosting the status of women by including them in politics, governance, and economic activities, as well as providing education for girls.

Abiodun added that the Renewed Hope Initiative Women Agricultural Support Programme holds a special resonance as it mirrors the resilience and tenacity of women in the state and the South West, saying that the spirit of women is integral to driving agricultural innovation and economic growth.

Abiodun, while noting that the Renewed Hope Initiative programme symbolises the determination of his administration to uplift women farmers, fortify the agricultural framework, and align with the sustainable development goals to ensure food security and sufficiency, added that investing in women extends beyond moral obligations.

In her welcome address, the first lady and the state coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) in Ogun State, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, noted that the initiative is to celebrate and empower women in agriculture, commending the first lady for sponsoring students with an interest in agriculture to Belarus for more studies.

She noted that supporting women in agriculture in the state would help to improve the agriculture value chain, adding that discrimination against people with disabilities would soon become a thing of the past with Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s determination to make the required difference.

In her remarks, the South West Zonal Coordinator for the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) and wife of the Governor of Oyo State, Mrs.Tamunominini Olufunke Makinde, noted that the support programme would assist women in agriculture, thereby improving the agriculture sector of the states, urging the beneficiaries to use the support judiciously.

 

Leave a comment

Related Articles

.EFCC arraigns man in court for rejecting Naira as legal currency

For allegedly refusing to accept the Naira as a legal tender and...

House of Reps appoints new deputy chief whip

Following the passing away of former Deputy Chief Whip Adewunmi Onanuga, the...

Alleged N20bln fraud: Court grants Ex-AMCON boss, Kuru N50m bail, adjourns until March 7

Justice Ramon Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja,...

Updated: CBN Increases ATM Fees, Scraps Free Withdrawal Policy

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a significant revision to...

Africa Must Prioritize Energy Access Amid Global Transition, says Petroleum Minister Lokpobiri

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, has said...

Reps Call for Military Intervention in Borno Communities Amid Boko Haram Resurgence

Following recent Boko Haram attacks that left scores of people killed and...

Flying Eagles Return to Camp for Egypt Friendlies Ahead of U20 AFCON

Ahead of AFCON, Nigeria’s U20 boys and seven-time African champions, the Flying...

Unresolved crisis: PDP suffers another defection as House of Reps member joins APC

Rep. Amos Magaji (Jaba/Zango Kataf Federal Constituency, Kaduna) of the Federal House...

Three weeks after vandalism, TCN begins repairs of Abuja transmission line

Three weeks after vandals damaged an underground transmission line near Millennium Park...

Daniel Bwala opens up on his past vociferous criticism of Tinubu’s govt.

Mr. Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications,...

Supreme Court ruling fails to resolve Rivers Assembly leadership crisis

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has clarified that the Supreme Court’s decision...

Nigeria Sees Significant Growth in Non-Oil Exports, Reaching $5.45 Billion in 2024

Nigeria’s non-oil exports have seen a significant boost, reaching $5.45 billion in...

Ogun plans large-scale ranching project to boost meat production

Ogun Gov. Dapo Abiodun, has unveiled plans to set up ranching facilities,...

Nigeria’s business sector sees uptick in January, indicating economic recovery

Nigerian businesses kicked off in the new year on a positive note,...

FG Unveils Diaspora City Project to Foster Connections with Nigerians Abroad

In a bid to reconnect with Nigerians abroad to their roots, the...

NAFDAC cracks down on counterfeit medicines, seizes fake drugs in Anambra market

The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched...

CONMESS: South-West clinical lecturers begin indefinite strike

The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), South-West Zone, has...

Nigerian Army Cracks Down on Oil Thieves, Destroys 24 Illegal Refineries

The Nigerian Army has dealt a significant blow to oil thieves in...

Just in: Supreme Court reserves judgement on appeal seeking to nullify Rivers LG poll

A five-member panel led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji of the Supreme Court...

Just in: Atiku leads PDP heavyweights in closed-door meeting with Obasanjo in Abeokuta

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar led a delegation to meet with his...