By Abiodun Lawal
The wife of the President, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, on Wednesday empowered 1,000 women small business owners in Ogun with ₦50,000 each to support their businesses.
Speaking at the empowerment programme in Abeokuta, the First Lady explained that the economic empowerment initiative was designed to support the entrepreneurial spirit of women traders and small-scale business owners.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the empowerment programme is in conjunction with Tony Elumelu Foundation in Ogun.
Tinubu, who was represented by the wife of the Governor of Ogun, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, noted that women wake up each day determined to provide for their families, educate their children, and uplift their communities.
She appreciated the Tony Elumelu Foundation, who donated N1billion to the Renewed Hope Initiative, to directly support 18,500 women across the nation with 500 women from each of the 36 states and the FCT to receive N50,000 each.
According to Mrs Tinubu, the initiative will enable women strengthen and recapitalise their existing small businesses.
She added that the programme targeted 500 women in Ogun but the governor of the state, Dapo Abiodun, in his magnanimity, added another 500 women to make 1,000 beneficiaries from the state.
“Let me emphasise that this is not a loan. It is a grant and a seed of renewed hope to help you recapitalise your existing businesses.
“It is my firm belief that when you empower a woman, you empower a household, a community, and indeed a nation,” she said.
In her welcome address, Mrs Adijat Adeleye, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, said it was important for people to feel and enjoy the dividends of democracy.
“I appreciate the first lady of Nigeria; people are now feeling the impact of governance , both women and youths, including people living with disabilities. It is important to changing the narrative,” she said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Amarachi Adebayo, appreciated the first lady for ”bringing hope to the hopeless.”
“I thank her for the opportunity because we know what’s happening in Nigeria. The empowerment programme will go a long way in supporting our livelihood,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Yetunde Fatungase
