Akure, Ondo State – In a major boost for women entrepreneurs, Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has distributed N50,000 each to 500 women in Ondo State under her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Economic Empowerment Programme.
The cash grant, provided in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, aims to help small-scale business owners strengthen their trades and improve their livelihoods.
Supporting Women Entrepreneurs Nationwide
During the disbursement ceremony at the International Culture and Event Centre in Akure, the First Lady explained that the initiative is part of a broader plan to assist 18,500 women across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Represented by the wife of Ondo State Governor, Mrs. Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa, Senator Tinubu stated:
“This Economic Empowerment Programme is about supporting the entrepreneurial spirit of our women traders and small-scale business owners who wake up each day determined to provide for their families, educate their children, and uplift their communities.”
She clarified that the funds are not loans but grants to help beneficiaries reinvest in their businesses.
“Let me emphasise that this is not a loan. It is a grant and a seed of renewed hope to help you re-capitalise your existing businesses. It is my firm belief that when you empower a woman, you empower a household, a community, and indeed, a nation.”
Tony Elumelu Foundation’s N1 Billion Support
The First Lady acknowledged the Tony Elumelu Foundation for contributing N1 billion to the initiative, ensuring financial support reaches women across Nigeria.
“I thank the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which donated N1 billion to the Renewed Hope Initiative, to directly support 18,500 women across the country. Five hundred women from each of the 36 states and the FCT will be receiving N50,000 each to strengthen and re-capitalise their existing small businesses.”
Call for Responsible Use of Funds
Ondo State’s Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Seun Osamaye, urged beneficiaries to use the funds wisely to grow their businesses. She assured that the government would monitor the progress of recipients across the state’s 18 local government areas.
“This is happening to women under the leadership of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and our mothers, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu and Esther Aiyedatiwa. We are immensely grateful for this gesture,” she said.
A Nationwide Empowerment Drive
The Ondo State event follows a similar launch in Niger State, where 50 women received grants. The Renewed Hope Initiative continues to expand, offering financial support to female entrepreneurs as part of efforts to reduce poverty and boost economic growth.
This initiative highlights the government’s commitment to empowering women, recognizing their role in driving economic development at the grassroots level.
