Nigeria’s First Lady Empowers Women Farmers

Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has flagged off the Renewed Hope Initiative Agriculture Support Programme for the South West Zone of Nigeria.

She says the Launch is fulfilling her promise to continue promoting women across Nigeria, particularly farmers among them.

She remarked at Abeokuta, Ogun State, where she launched the scheme for the South-West zone.

The programme was launched simultaneously on Tuesday in three other zones; North Central – Plateau State; North East – Borno State and North West- Kebbi State.

In each State, 20 women farmers will be empowered with Five Hundred Thousand naira (N500, 000.00) each in addition to being trained on produce preservation, cultivation and others.

Food Sufficiency 

“The administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, recognizes the pivotal role that agriculture plays in achieving sustainable development and ensuring food sufficiency. 

“Therefore, the Renewed Hope Initiative’s commitment to supporting women farmers nationwide aligns with the broader National agenda to strengthen the agricultural sector.

“Today, we are supporting twenty (20) women farmers per State in the South West Zone with the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500, 000) each. To this end, a draft of Ten Million Naira (N10,000,000) per State for the South West Zone will be handed over to the First Ladies of Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo States who are also RHI State Coordinators for onward disbursement to all beneficiaries in their respective States. 

“These farmers are those in the agrarian sector, animal husbandry, poultry and fish farming,” the First Lady explained.

Mrs Tinubu also announced the readiness of the Ministry of Agriculture to partner with the Renewed Hope Initiative, RHI in promoting women’s involvement in Agriculture.

“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 for our young male farmers. 

“They will all be specially identified, trained and empowered. Also, the pre-identified eighty (80) women farmers in each State for our agricultural support programme will be carried along,” she added.

Also at the launch, the First Lady gave out recapitalisation grants of One Hundred Thousand naira (N100, 000. 00) each to 100 People with Disabilities in Ogun State.

Dominica Nwabufo