By Stephen Adeleye.
The wife of Nigeria’s President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has flagged off the disbursement of N50,000 grant to 1000 women petty traders in Kogi.
The grants are being disbursed under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Economic Empowerment Programme of President Bola Tinubu.
Mrs Tinubu, who launched the disbursement on Thursday at Government House Lokoja, said the gesture was part of their continued commitment to drive economic growth towards a better life for families.
Mrs Tinubu, who was represented by the wife of Speaker House of Representatives, Hajia Fatimah Tajudeen Abass, said the grant was to assist the women petty traders in overcoming some of their business challenges.
She added that it would enable them to expand their businesses, creat more jobs, and contribute more robustly to the economy.
“Today, under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Economic Empowerment Programme, we are providing 1,000 pre-selected women petty traders per state with a grant of N50,000 each to recapitalise and grow their businesses.
“A total of 1.85 billion will be disbursed to 37,000 women petty traders across the nation.
“The grant is to assist our women pretty traders in overcoming some of their business challenges, expand their businesses, create more jobs, and contribute more robustly to our economy.
“Economic Empowerment remains a core objective of the Renewed Hope Initiative.
“We have consistently delivered on this promise for both women and youth across the six geopolitical zones to support economic reforms President Bola Tinubu’s Administration.
“We recognize that empowering women economically is not just a moral imperative but a strategic one.
“When women thrive, their families thrive, and by extension, our communities and nation prosper,” she said.
The Nigeria’s first lady commended all the RHI State Coordinators and First ladies of States, and other stakeholders for making the program a reality.
In his remarks, Gov. Ahmed Ododo, commended the first lady for the gesture noting the the initiative was one of President Tinubu’s campaign promises on women and youths empowerment to create wealth.
The governor commended the President’s wife for her humanitarian heart and for constantly thinking about women empowerment and poverty alleviation thereby touching the lives of indigent women at the grassroots
Ododo restated the commitment of his administration to continue to give priority to women empowerment and inclusion in the state beyond the 35 per cent affirmative.
“We thank the first lady for providing a strong platform to eradicating poverty among the women population in the society.
“We will continue to partner with first lady of our dear nation in her determination to empower our women in the state and the nation at large,” Ododo said.
Ododo advised the beneficiaries to ensure judicious use of the re-capitalization grant, stressing that it was an opportunity to move their businesses forward.
He urged the people of the State and the nation at large to continue to support President Tinubu’s policies and programmes in bringing the country out of its inherited economic hardships.
Earlier, the Kogi First Lady, Hajia Sefinat Ododo, appreciated the President’s wife for her commitment to women empowerment particularly at the grassroots.
Hajia Ododo assured the Nigeria’s first lady of total support of Kogi women in her quest to better the lives of women in the state and the country at large.
The Kogi first lady stressed that the grant would go a long way to boost the businesses of the beneficiaries and improve their well-being and that of their families.
“As a grassroots person, I understand your struggles. You have shown incredible resilience in overcoming countless challenges to build your businesses.
“Today, we celebrate your hard work and determination to succeed.
“Let us continue to work together to build our State where every woman has the opportunity to succeed, where every small business can grow and contribute to our nation’s prosperity,” she said.
The highlight of the occasion was the symbolic presentation of Cheques to some of the beneficiaries across the three Senatorial districts of the state.
Some of the beneficiaries in their separate comments; Khadijat Isah, Bosede Ojo and Victor Adejoh; from Okene, Ijumu and Olamaboro respectively, commended the first lady for the gesture.
They promised to make judicious use of the grant, stressing that it would go a long way to boost their businesses and productivity.
