The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, has flagged off a ₦1 billion women empowerment programme aimed at supporting over 18,500 female traders and small-scale entrepreneurs across the country.
The initiative, introduced under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) and funded in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, was officially launched in Sokoto State. Representing the First Lady at the event was Dr. Fatima Ahmed Aliyu, wife of the Sokoto State Governor.
₦50,000 Grant Each for Women Entrepreneurs
The programme will provide 500 women in each of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with a grant of ₦50,000 each. The support is designed to help beneficiaries recapitalise and expand their businesses, while boosting financial inclusion and poverty reduction.
Senator Tinubu emphasised that the initiative is not a loan but a direct grant:
“This is a seed of renewed hope to help you strengthen your existing businesses. I firmly believe that when you empower a woman, you empower a household, a community, and indeed, a nation.”
Sokoto Flag-Off Ceremony
During the Sokoto launch, Dr. Fatima Aliyu presented the first set of grants to selected beneficiaries on behalf of the First Lady. The event was attended by dignitaries, including the wife of the Deputy Governor of Sokoto State.
Senator Tinubu expressed her gratitude to the Tony Elumelu Foundation for funding the programme, describing it as a major step toward economic transformation for women-led businesses.
She also commended the Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, and his wife for their support in ensuring the smooth rollout of the Renewed Hope Initiative’s projects in the state.
Driving Women’s Empowerment Nationwide
The ₦1 billion programme is expected to stimulate entrepreneurship, strengthen women-owned businesses, and create ripple effects of economic growth across Nigeria. By targeting women traders and small business owners, the initiative seeks to reduce poverty and provide sustainable livelihoods at the grassroots level.
The Sokoto event marked the official flag-off of the scheme, with similar launches set to hold across other states in the coming weeks.
