As part of continued commitment to drive economic growth towards a better life for families, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Economic Empowerment Programme, powered by the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, has flagged off the Recapitalization Grants for 1,000 women petty traders in Kogi State.
The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, while flagging off the programme in Lokoja on Thursday revealed that a total of N1,850,0000,000.00 would be disbursed to 37,000 women petty traders across the nation.
Represented by the wife of the Speaker of House of Representatives, Hajiya Fatima Tajudeen Abas, the First Lady noted that the Renewed Hope Initiative is aware of the challenges faced by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), especially the petty traders, who form the backbone of the local economies.
She stressed that these challenges have not deterred the strength of the women in the avowed commitment to contribute to the economy at the grassroots.
She said: “Today, through the Renewed Hope Initiative Economic Empowerment Programme, we are providing 1,000 pre-selected women petty traders per state with a grant of N50,000 each to recapitalize and grow their businesses.
“The grants provided today are to assist our women petty traders in overcoming some of their business challenges, expand their businesses create more jobs, and contribute more robustly to our economy”.
She affirmed that economic empowerment remains a core objective of the Renewed Hope Initiative and the programme has continued to support the economic reforms of the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Earlier in her welcome address, the First Lady of Kogi State, Hajiya Sefinat Usman Ododo, described the programme as a significant stride towards empowering women entrepreneurs and enhancing their economic resilience.
She expressed the hope that the grants would undoubtedly provide the much-needed support in helping women petty traders expand their businesses and improve their livelihoods.
Hajiya Sefinat Ododo further said that by investing in women’s growth, the government is creating opportunities for a brighter future, just as she commended the efforts of the First Lady and her dedicated team in making this initiative a reality.
In his remarks, the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, said the Renewed Hope Initiative is built on a strong administrative and economic platform that is sustainable even after eight years, describing it as a visionary masterplan to address poverty amongst women. He commended the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, for showing that she is capable of matching words with action by providing a strong platform to address poverty amongst women.
Governor Ododo described the event as significant, noting that the rural women who invested their trust in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by voting for him in the 2023 general election were on ground to reap the benefit of their trust. He commended the President for honoring his promise to petty traders, and building an enduring microeconomic foundation to address the concerns of the indigents in the society.
The Governor who expressed excitement that Sen. Oluremi Tinubu is helping his administration to fulfill his campaign promises to the people of the state, further pledged his administration’s total support for the Renewed Hope Initiative Economic Empowerment Programme, assuring that the government will continue to partner with the First Lady of Nigeria through her coordinator and First Lady of Kogi State in her determination to empower women.
He said his administration is unbending in its commitment to women empowerment and inclusion, stressing that it has floated many policies with particular interest in women empowerment in agriculture and politics.
His words: “I am particularly elated by the fact that the mother of our nation is helping us to fulfill our promise to the wonderful women of our dear state. Our administration in the State is unbending in our commitment to women empowerment and inclusion. We have floated a lot of programs with particular attention on women Empowerment. The AcRESAL Program has more women beneficiaries than men as women are empowered to play a critical role in agriculture and the value chain.
“Politically, we have given more women spaces . In the cabinet, the Secretary to the State Government is a woman. The Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology is a woman; the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism is a woman. The Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation is a woman as well as the Commissioner for Women Affairs. The Accountant General of the State is a woman as well as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Drug Abuse as well as the Director General of the Social Investment Agency and many too numerous to mention, including the first female Director General of the Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation. At the grassroots level, we have encouraged our party to produce the first ever female Chairmanship candidate of a ruling party. We have also encouraged our Chairmen to pick females as their Vice Chairmanship candidates, except in one Local Government in order to strike a balance. Our party has also ensured that 40% of our Councilorship candidates are also women. That means that if all our candidates are able to win in the free and fair election, we will have the first ever elected Local Government Chairman in our dear state as well as 20 Local Government Council Vice Chairmen as women as well as 96 Councilors as women.
“This is unprecedented in the political history of Nigeria. On the issue of Council Leaders, when we get to the bridge, we shall cross it with the guidance of our First Lady, Her Excellency Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON. We will always listen to your wise counsel because I have no doubt that building the women means building the nation.
“On behalf of the good people of Kogi State, I wish to express our gratitude to the mother of the nation for her hand of support. Our hopes are renewed”.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of Recapitalization Grants to the beneficiaries who were full of commendation to the First Lady of Nigeria in particular and the Tinubu Administration in general.
The audience also had a feel of cultural performances by the award winning Kogi State Cultural Troupe.
As a mark of appreciation, the Kogi women symbolically presented a calabash of kolanut to the First Lady through her representative.
Signed: Yemi Balogun
Information Officer, Office of the Wife of the Kogi State Governor
