Five hundred women in Kwara State have benefitted from the latest empowerment scheme of Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu.
Wife of Kwara State governor, Prof. Olufolake AbdulRazaq, on behalf of Mrs Tinubu, distributed the empowerment items, which included deep freezers, grinding machines and gas cookers/ovens to the beneficiaries in Ilorin, the state capital.
Mrs AbdulRazaq said the empowerment scheme was implemented through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Support Scheme of the First Lady and the office of the special assistant to the president on Sustainable Development Goals.
She added: “This event is borne out of a steadfast commitment to the economic empowerment of women and promotion of entrepreneurship and it marks a significant stride in our collective pursuit of a more inclusive and progressive society.
“This round of the Renewed Hope women empowerment initiative is designed to support the ventures of five hundred women in the State and put them on the path of self-reliance and financial independence.
“The selected beneficiaries of this phase of the scheme will receive deep freezers, power generating sets, grinding machines and gas cooker/oven to duly engage them and support their trade to cushion the effect of the economic situation.”
Mrs Abdulrazaq recalled that on August 1, 2024, the Renewed Hope Initiative, in collaboration with partners, granted scholarships to 200 Nigerian students, with five Kwarans as beneficiaries.
“On the 21st of December 2024 the Renewed Hope Initiative distributed Two Hundred Thousand Naira each to two hundred and fifty elderly people in kwara state through its Elderly Support Scheme, also in April Five Hundred Thousand Naira was presented to twenty women farmers through the Renewed Hope Initiative Agricultural Support Programme while over fifty thousand units of exercise books was distributed to school children through the Renewed Hope Initiative Education Support Scheme in the State,” she said
She acknowledged the huge support of Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for women in the state through the numerous empowerment schemes of the State’s Social Investment Programmes (KWASSIP).
“In complementing this drive and promoting the welfare of our people, my office and the Ajike People Support Centre have over the years trained and equipped women and youths in vocations such as sewing, jewelry making, confectioneries and make up and makeover; among others, while we continue to encourage youth entrepreneurship and leading advocacies to curb drug abuse, gender based violence, child abuse, human trafficking and other initiatives that directly impacts on the people. We have also provided food support to households and supported businesses with financial grants.
“In closing, I enjoin all beneficiaries of this gesture of the mother of the nation and the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President to make judicious use of the items presented to them to support their respective businesses and better the lot of their households,” she stated.
