Oluremi Tinubu Empowers 1,000 Benue Women Petty Traders With N50,000 Each

The First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu yesterday empowered 1,000 Benue women petty traders through her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Economic Programme.

The women who were drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, each received N50, 000 grant from the RHI economic empowerment programme.

Performing the ceremony in Makurdi, Mrs. Tinubu said she was aware of the challenges confronted by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), especially the petty traders, who form the fulcrum of the local economy.

Mrs. Tinubu who was represented by the Benue Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Anna Itodo, said the entire “programme would cost over N1.8 billion, explaining that the grants provided was to assist women petty traders in overcoming some of their business challenges, expand their businesses, create more jobs, and contribute more robustly to the economy”.

“We are all aware of the challenges faced by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), especially the petty traders, who form the backbone of our local economies.

“These challenges, however, have not deterred the strength of our women. I salute you all and celebrate your courage and resilience that keep you going, to put food on the table for your families.

“Today, through the Renewed Hope Initiative Economic Empowerment Programme, we are providing 1,000 pre-selected women petty traders per State with a grant of N50,000 each to recapitalize and grow their businesses.

“A total of One Billion, Eight Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N1,850,0000,000.00) will be disbursed to 37,000 women petty traders across the nation.”she said

The First Lady said economic empowerment remained a core objective of the RHI and have consistently delivered on this promise for both women and youth across the six geopolitical zones to support the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

She said described the beneficiaries as “the heart of our local economies, the foundation of our communities, and the unsung heroes of our nation”, whom she noted have shown incredible resilience in overcoming countless challenges to build their businesses.

In a remark, Governor Hyacinth Alia commended the Benue women for voting him into office and their continuous support to his administration.

Governor Alia who spoke via his Deputy, Dr. Sam Ode, commended the First Lady for her commitment to the economic empowerment, particularly for women and the most vulnerable in the society, which he said has indeed brought about transformative change across the nation.

The governor said through the RHI, the First Lady has offered a lifeline to 1,000 pre-selected women petty traders, each of whom would receive a grant of N50,000 to recapitalize and grow their businesses.

“This grant is not just a financial contribution, it is a beacon of hope, a seed of prosperity that will help our women overcome challenges, expand their businesses, create jobs and contribute more robustly to our local economy.

He noted that the grant would enable the women to surmount some of the challenges they faced, thereby enhancing their capacity to thrive in the marketplace.

Earlier, the State Coordinator, Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI),
Mrs. Scholastica Ben-Sor, commended the President’s wife for always remembering and supporting women in the state.

Mrs. Ben-Sor who is also Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Affairs said Benue women have benefited from several empowerment schemes from the First Lady through the pet project.

She said through the support of the First Lady, 250 elderly people received N100, 000 each, 20 women received N500, 000 through her agriculture empowerment scheme.

She urged the women to make judicious use of the money and continue to support the President and Governor Alia to succeed.