By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
Hope came alive for vulnerable groups in the South South Geo-political Zone of Nigeria as the Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu launched Renewed Hope Initiative Women Agricultural Support programme (RHI-WASP) in the zone.
Mrs. Tinubu during the launch of the programme in Uyo, Akwa Ibom for the zone on Tuesday, also flagged off the disbursement of the grants for 120 beneficiaries selected from the six states making the zone.
Breakdown of the grants showed that 20 women from each state who venture into the agrarian sector, animal husbandry, poultry and fish farming would receive N500,000 each.
The money according to the President’s Wife, is to be disbursed to each beneficiary by the wives of governors, who double as coordinators in their respective states.
Mrs Tinubu, who was represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, said that the programme for the South South Zone is in fulfilment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration’s promise to continue to promote the womenfolk, particularly farmers across the Nation
The Nigeria First Lady, said that President Tinubu recognized the pivotal role that agriculture plays in achieving sustainable development and ensuring food sufficiency, hence, the Renewed Hope Initiative’s commitment to supporting women farmers nationwide, aligns with the broader National agenda to strengthen the agricultural sector.
She noted that the programme has been successfully held in all the other five (5) geopolitical zones, namely: North Central – Plateau State; North East – Borno State; North West – Kebbi State; South East – Imo State; and South West – Ogun State.
“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. They will all be specially identified, trained and empowered. Also, the pre-identified eighty (80) women farmers in each State for our agricultural support programme will be carried along.
“I want to implore our women farmers receiving support today, to seize this opportunity to expand their agricultural ventures, contribute to local and national food production, and serve as role models for others aspiring to join the agricultural sector.
“I am confident that this initiative will not only transform the lives of the individual beneficiaries, but also contribute to food sufficiency in the South South Zone.
I urge all stakeholders, including government officials, community leaders, and non-governmental organizations, to work hand in hand to support local farmers to ensure food security in our communities and Nation at large.” Mrs. Tinubu stated.
The First Lady during the event, also presented a cheque of N10 million to Akwa Ibom governor’s wife, Mrs. Patience Umo Eno for onward disbursement to100 Persons Living With Disability in the state, who own small business ventures to share N100,000 each under Renewed Hope Initiative Social Investment Programme (RHI-SIP)
“Given the mood of today, we have decided to have a twin event. The Renewed Hope Initiative Social Investment Programme (RHI-SIP) will be empowering One Hundred (100) Persons with Disability Small Business Owners in Akwa Ibom State, with the sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000) each to recapitalize their existing businesses”. She said
In his goodwill message, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, commended the President Tinubu’s wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu for the humanitarian disposition of the Renewed Hope Initiative stressing that last year, through the programme, vulnerable groups all over the nation, were given financial empowerment.
He noted that, “As our nation grapples with challenging economic environment, leading to the skyrocketing prices of our staple food items, support such as this, given to our farmers is highly welcome and I commend the first Lady for her vision!”
In her welcome remarks, the wife of the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Patience Umo Eno also thanked the President wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu for empowering women in agriculture and supporting individuals with disabilities, a development that promotes equality and leads to innovation and diversity.
“As we all know, women in agriculture often face numerous challenges including limited access to resources, land and education. By empowering these crop of women, we can unlock their full potentials, increase food security and boost economic growth in rural communities.
“Also, 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 trainings and access support to overcome barriers. This is exactly what RHI seeks to achieve with this social investment programme.
“I must commend our mother, the Nation’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu for empowering women in agriculture and supporting individuals with disabilities, a development that promotes equality and leads to innovation and diversity.
“As First Ladies, we will key into the many laudable initiatives of the Renewed Hope Initiative bordering on Education, Health, Economic Empowerment, Social Investment and Agriculture; as well as leverage on the already established structures provided, to touch more lives in the South South Zone,” the Akwa Ibom governor’s wife said.
She welcomed to the state, the President wife, represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Nana Shettima, her colleagues from from states in South South, whom she discribed as her
beloved sisters-beyond-boundaries who are not just there as First Ladies in their respective states but as RHI State Coordinators in South-South Nigeria and other Zones.
