By Seyi Babalola
Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady, launched the Renewed Hope Initiative Women Agricultural Support Programme in the country’s South-South geopolitical zone on Tuesday, May 7.
Mrs Tinubu, who inaugurated the project at the Government Banquet Hall in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, stated that the event, which has been held in other geographical zones in the nation, will provide N500,000 to 20 women from each of the six states in the south-south area.
The First Lady, represented at the occasion by the Vice President’s wife, Hajia Nana Shettima, stated that 75 percent of the scheme’s beneficiaries are young ladies who work mostly in animal husbandry, poultry, and fish farming.
According to her: “Today, we are supporting 20 women farmers per state in the South South Zone with the sum of N500,000 each. To this end, a draft of N10,000,000 per state for the South South Zone will be handed over to the first ladies of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers 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. 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 per cent of the beneficiaries will be young female farmers, while 25 per cent will be our young male farmers.”
Similarly, the First Lady further announced that 100 persons living with disabilities who are in small-scale businesses would each receive the sum of N100,000 to boost their businesses.
