May 7, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has inaugurated the Renewed Hope Initiative Women Agricultural Support Programme (RHI-WASP) designed to empower female farmers in the South-South geopolitical zone of the country.
The event, which was held at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Uyo, also featured the launch of financial empowerment for 100 physically challenged small business owners.
Speaking at the event, the President’s wife disclosed that the programme, which has also been held in other geopolitical zones in the country, aims at empowering 20 women each from the six states in the south-south region with the sum of N500,000 per beneficiary.
Senator Tinubu, who was represented at the event by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, explained that 75 percent of the beneficiaries of the scheme are young females who are mainly into animal husbandry, poultry and fish farming.
“Today, we are supporting twenty (20) women farmers per State in the South-South 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 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% of the beneficiaries will be young female farmers while 25% will be for our young male farmers,” she said.
Similarly, the First Lady further announced that 100 persons living with disability, who are into small-scale businesses, would each receive the sum of N100,000 to boost their businesses.
Addressing the beneficiaries and guests, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, commended the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her humanitarian disposition where vulnerable groups across the nation are beneficiaries of the Renewed Hope Initiative.
He noted that the Government of Akwa Ibom State has taken steps to adopt the laudable programmes in the state. Worthy of note, the Governor stated, is the ARISE Initiative for the Elderly, and ARISE free voucher food programme from the Bulk purchasing Agency, among others.
“Every month, elderly persons from the three hundred and sixty-nine wards in the state, especially the vulnerable ones from each local government area in every ward, are given fifty thousand naira each to take care of their needs, especially food and medicine.
“Today, we are gathered here again to launch this great initiative for the south-south region. As our nation grapples with a challenging economic environment leading to skyrocketing prices of food, this programme will help support our farming population and ensure that we get back to the farm,” he said.
The Governor also noted that to ensure food sufficiency for all, the first and third Fridays of every month have been declared as farm days in the state.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Wife of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Patience Umo Eno, who is also the State Coordinator for the Renewed Hope Initiative, said that women in agriculture often face numerous challenges, including limited access to resources, land and education. She also posited that empowering women will help unlock their full potential, increase food security and boost economic growth in rural communities.
Pastor Patience Eno, who thanked Senator Oluremi Tinubu for also empowering the physically challenged people in the state, noted that individuals with disabilities make valuable contributions in business and other fields, hence the need to create inclusive opportunities for them to participate fully in economic activities, receive proper training and access support to overcome barriers.
In a goodwill message, the Zonal Chairman, RHI South-South zone and the First Lady of Bayelsa State, Dr. Gloria Diri, applauded Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her deliberate efforts to change the narratives in the six geo-political zones through various empowerment programmes for women, youths, children and the elderly, cutting across political lines and affiliations, reiterating their resolve to replicate programmes that will impact positively on humanity.
Present at the event were the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Akon Eyakenyi; Wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Ekaette Unoma Akpabio; Wife of the Honourable Speaker, House of Representatives, Hajiya Fatima Tajudeen; First Lady of Imo State and Secretary of the RHI Governing Council, Barr. Chioma Uzodimma; First Lady of Edo State, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki; First Lady of Cross River State, Mrs. Eyoanwan Otu; First Lady of Delta State, Mrs. Tobore Oborevwori; First Lady of Rivers State, Lady Valerie Fubara; First Lady of Osun State, Chief Titilola Adeleke; First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun; Lawmakers, Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, among others.
The First Lady of Akwa Ibom had earlier received the Vice President’s Wife, Hajia Nana Shettima, and other guests at the Victor Attah International Airport, before leading them to Government House, Uyo where they were received by the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno.
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