By Philip Yatai

The Women Affairs Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has begun the disbarment of N10 million grants to 20 women farmers in the FCT.

The grant is under the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative’s (RHI) Women Agricultural Empowerment programme.

Mandate Secretary of the secretariat, Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, explained during the disbursement in Abuja on Friday, that each of the beneficiaries would receive N500,000.

Benjamins-Laniyi, who is also the FCT Coordinator of the RHI, said that the disbursement marked an important milestone in the efforts to support vulnerable women to expand their micro investment in agriculture.

She explained that the N500,000 grant would significantly help each of the beneficiaries to expand their agricultural production as a sustainable means of livelihood.

According to her, the Women Agricultural Empowerment programme was designed to support and empower women in the North Central zone of Nigeria.

Benjamins-Laniy said that the women were selected from the six Area Councils of the FCT, under the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative’s women Agricultural Support Programme.

She added that each of the women would also get a free health insurance scheme from the Health Secretariat of the FCTA.

“This is not a palliative, but a grant to show that President Bola Tinubu-led government cannot shine without touching the lives of the people at the grassroots.

“It is through women that the government can touch most communities. This is the message of the Renewed Hope Initiative of the First Lady.

“The women secretariat is investing in women, and we are unifying them for global impact,” she said.

The mandate secretary said that the women would be closely monitored to ensure efficient use of the grant.

Benjamins-Laniyi also announced a N7.5 million reward for the women that recorded the best yield during harvest.

She said that the woman that recorded the best yield would receive a N5 million reward, the second best would get N1.5 million while the third best would go home with N1 million.

According to her, the reward was designed to encourage the beneficiaries to expand their investment and grow their agricultural businesses to macro level.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the secretariat, Alhaji Adetoyi Kolawole, noted that the grant attested to the First Lady’s unwavering commitment to financially empower women.

According to him, the support will not only enhance the livelihoods of the women, but also impact positively on their families and communities.

He said, “The initiative aligns with the secretariat’s mission, which aims at promoting gender equality and empowering women.”

Kolawole advised the beneficiaries to utilise the grant judiciously, adding that the secretariat would monitor the utilisation of the fund.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Victoria Sani, a poultry farmer from Kurudu community, Abuja Municipal Area Council, commended the First lady for the support, which she described as life changing.

She also thanked the women affairs secretariat for implementing different interventions to improve the livelihood of women, their families, and communities. (NAN)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani