From Ahmad Saka, Bauchi
The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has disbursed ₦50,000 each to 500 women across the 20 local government areas of Bauchi State under her pet project, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Economic Empowerment Programme.
Flagging off the programme at the Rilwanu Adamu Square in Bauchi, the First Lady, who was represented by the Wife of the Bauchi State Governor, Hajiya Aishatu Bala Mohammed, said the gesture was in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
According to her, the initiative aims to support 18,500 women entrepreneurs across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with business recapitalisation grants.
“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. This is not a loan. It is a grant and a seed of renewed hope to help you recapitalise your existing businesses,” Mrs. Tinubu stated.
She added: “It is my firm belief that when you empower a woman, you empower a household, a community, and indeed, a nation.”
Hajiya Aishatu Bala Mohammed, who also serves as the North-East Coordinator of the RHI, presented the cash support to the preselected beneficiaries. She expressed appreciation to the Tony Elumelu Foundation for its collaboration and reaffirmed her commitment to grassroots development.
She further announced additional support to Fulani communities across the state, disclosing that 21 groups would each receive ₦300,000, totaling ₦6.3 million. In addition, 25 Fulani groups would benefit from the distribution of 170 bags of rice and 26 bags of fertilizer.
The Bauchi State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Muhammad Baban Takko, commended the initiative and urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the funds. She reiterated that the support was a grant, not a loan, and encouraged the women to invest wisely in their businesses.
“This is happening under the leadership of Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed and his wife, who consistently prioritise women’s empowerment every two to three months. We are grateful for this continued gesture,” she said.
Some beneficiaries who spoke to reporters expressed their gratitude to the First Lady and the Bauchi State First Lady, pledging to utilize the financial support and food items to boost their businesses and improve their livelihoods.
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